Influence of Retinal Venous Pressure on Visual and Structural Outcomes in Eyes with Central Retinal Vein Occlusion Undergoing Anti-VEGF Treatment.

PURPOSE

This study investigates the role of retinal venous pressure (RVP) in determining visual and anatomical outcomes in eyes affected by macular edema (ME) secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study analyzed data from 31 eyes of 31 patients with CRVO-induced ME. RVP was quantified using an ophthalmodynamometer, and participants were divided into two cohorts: low RVP (19 eyes) and high RVP (12 eyes). Treatment involved three monthly intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) injections, followed by a pro re nata (PRN) approach. Visual and anatomical metrics, injection frequencies, RVP levels, and diastolic central retinal artery pressure (CRAP) were monitored over 12 months.

RESULTS

At baseline, the low RVP group demonstrated superior mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in logMAR (P = 0.017), lower central retinal thickness (CRT) (P = 0.018), and higher diastolic CRAP (P = 0.028) compared to the high RVP group. Both groups exhibited significant improvements in BCVA and CRT after 12 months of IVR therapy, with more pronounced gains in the low RVP group for BCVA (P = 0.005) and CRT (P = 0.030). RVP and diastolic CRAP improved in both groups over the study period, with the low RVP group showing greater changes in RVP (P = 0.005) and diastolic CRAP (P = 0.002). Additionally, fewer injections were required in the low RVP group compared to the high RVP group (6.3 vs 7.8, P = 0.017).

CONCLUSION

Eyes with CRVO-associated ME and lower RVP levels exhibit superior baseline visual function, lower CRT, and more favorable outcomes following IVR treatment. Lower RVP is also associated with a reduced injection burden, underscoring its potential as a predictive marker for therapy response.