[Clinical and fluorescein angiography findings in patients with retinal vein occlusion. A unicenter study of 211 patients].

Between january 1986 and december 1989 we prospectively studied 211 patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Documented by fundus photography and fluorescein angiography clinical and angiographic findings were analysed. The age ranged from 28 to 83 with a mean of 63 years. 104 (48.8%) patients were male, 107 (51.2%) female. 51.1% right and 48.9% left eyes were affected. Mean visual acuity was 20/60. A non ischemic type of BRVO was found in 46.9% and an ischemic in 53.1% of the patients. The mean visual acuity in the non ischemic type was 20/50 and significantly better (p = 0.008) than in the ischemic type with a mean visual acuity of 20/60 (Mann-Whitney test). Preretinal neovascularisation was found in 14.7% and iris neovascularisation in 0.9%. One main branch was occluded in 82.9% and two main branches in 17.1%. The temporal superior quadrant was affected in 51.7%, the temporal inferior in 28%, the nasal inferior in 2.8% and the nasal superior in 0.5%. Hemisperical inferior BRVO were found in 8.1% and hemisperical superior in 5.7% of the patients. A BRVO in the fellow eye occurred in 8.5% and a CRVO in the other eye in 3.8%. Cystoid macular edema was present in 46.4%, a combination of cystoid and ischemic maculopathy in 23.7%, and ischemic maculopathy was found in 10%. Density of intraretinal hemorrhages was significantly (p = 0.046) and type of maculopathy highly significant (p < 0.0001) related to the ischemia type (Chi-square method).