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Influence of macular microcirculation and retinal thickness on visual acuity in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion and macular edema

  • Clinical Investigation
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate perifoveal capillary blood flow velocity and retinal thickness at the central fovea in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and macular edema and to assess their relation with visual acuity and visual prognosis.

Methods

Eighteen patients with BRVO and 16 healthy volunteers were compared. Perifoveal capillary blood flow velocity was measured on fluorescein angiograms with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope by the tracing method. Retinal thickness was measured at the central fovea by optical coherence tomography. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was determined.

Results

BCVA differed significantly between patients and controls (P < 0.0001). Among patients, BCVA was negatively correlated with perifoveal capillary blood flow velocity by univariate analysis (r = −0.7916, P < 0.0001), and positively correlated with retinal thickness at the central fovea (r = 0.8970, P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that retinal thickness at the central fovea was the only independent determinant of BCVA (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

In patients with BRVO, BCVA was more strongly influenced by retinal thickness at the central fovea than by perifoveal capillary blood flow velocity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Yachiyo Medical Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Chiba, Japan

    Hidetaka Noma & Hideharu Funatsu

  2. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan

    Hidetaka Noma

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Yodogawa Christian Hospital, Osaka, Japan

    Seiyo Harino

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical College, Asahikawa, Japan

    Taiji Nagaoka

  5. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Tatsuya Mimura

  6. Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan

    Sadao Hori

  7. Department of Ophthalmology, Yachiyo Medical Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, 477-96 Owada-shinden, Yachiyo, Chiba, 276-8524, Japan

    Hidetaka Noma

Authors
  1. Hidetaka Noma
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  2. Hideharu Funatsu
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  3. Seiyo Harino
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  4. Taiji Nagaoka
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  5. Tatsuya Mimura
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  6. Sadao Hori
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hidetaka Noma.

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Noma, H., Funatsu, H., Harino, S. et al. Influence of macular microcirculation and retinal thickness on visual acuity in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion and macular edema. Jpn J Ophthalmol 54, 430–434 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-010-0834-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-010-0834-9

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