Central retinal artery occlusion: findings in optical coherence tomography and functional correlations.

BACKGROUND

Visual prognosis in central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is poor and not predictable in individual patients. There may be a correlation between visual acuity and extent of initial macular edema.

METHODS

Central retinal thickness of eleven patients with subtotal CRAO was measured with optical coherence tomography (OCT). Patients' acute-stage macular thicknesses were compared to those of later stages. Values are given as mean (+/-standard error; range).

RESULTS

The mean age of the eleven patients was 68.8 years (62-75). Eight men and three women were examined. The mean initial duration of CRAO was 24.7 (+/- 5.0; 4-77) hours. Initial central thickness was 372.5 (+/- 27.1; 258-522) microm. After 5.7 (+/- 1.5; 1-17) months, mean reduction in macular edema was 197 (+/- 31.3; 63-391) microm. Visual acuity (VA) improved from 0.0125 (+/- 0.2; blindness -0.6) to 0.035 (+/- 0.2; blindness - 0.8) namely 4.5 lines. This difference was significant (p= 0.023). 6/11 patients (55 %) initially had a pronounced central retinal edema (>380 microm). No correlation was found between the initial macular edema height and visual improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

The extent of macular edema differs widely and does not affect visual prognosis in CRAO eyes.