Bifemelane in the treatment of central retinal artery or vein obstruction.

Patients with retinal artery or vein obstruction received 150 mg of bifemelane hydrochloride daily for 1 to 11 months and other treatment (urokinase, steroid hormone, hyperbaric oxygen, or laser photocoagulation) or the latter without bifemelane. After treatment with bifemelane, improvements in visual acuity were seen in 12 of 17 eyes with central retinal artery obstruction, in three of four eyes with central retinal vein obstruction, and in five of nine eyes with branch retinal vein obstruction. Among the patients not receiving bifemelane, improvements were seen in two of six patients with central retinal artery disease, in 14 of 27 eyes with central retinal vein obstruction, and in 13 of 28 eyes with branch retinal vein obstruction. It is concluded that bifemelane can be used to improve visual acuity in many patients with central retinal artery obstruction.