Effect of Laser Photocoagulation on the Retinal Vessel Diameter inBranch and Macular Vein Occlusion

Abstract

To investigate the response of retinal vessel diameters to photocoagulation treatment and their role for the success of laser treatment in patients with retinal vein occlusion. Methods: The study included 14 patients with branch vein occlusion or macular vein occlusion. The ophthalmologic examination included best-corrected visual acuity, biomicroscopy, fundus photography, and fluorescein angiography. Retinal vessel diameters were quantified before and after laser photocoagulation using a retinal vessel analyzer. Main Outcome Measure: Retinal vessel diameters. Results: In cases manifesting macular vein occlusions, no significant change of the vessel diameter in any vessel was observed during the follow-up period. In the group with branch vein occlusion, all vessels tended to constrict after the laser photocoagulation. The effect of laser treatment on retinal vessel diameters was significant for superotemporal (P = .045, analysis of variance

Intravitreal steroids in the management of macular oedema

“…The Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion Study Group (1984) showed that argon laser grid photocoagulation can improve VA in eyes in which BRVO with macular oedema has decreased vision to £ 20 ⁄ 40. This has been confirmed by other studies (Battaglia et al 1999;Maar et al 2004;Zaidi et al 2004). Vitrectomy and arteriovenous adventitial sheathotomy have also been shown to reduce macular oedema (Shah et al 2000;Figueroa et al 2004;Yamaji et al 2004).…”

Response of Retinal Vessels and Retrobulbar Hemodynamics to Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Treatment in Eyes with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

“…In a previous report, we have shown that the early vasoconstrictor response to ranibizumab treatment is a good indicator of the visual acuity outcome after laser photocoagulation in BRVO. 15 This indicates that in the successfully treated eye the level of hypoxia is reduced, leading to retinal vessel vasoconstriction. In the present study, we tested this hypothesis by employing correlation analysis, compatible with the idea that hypoxia is the major trigger of VEGF in BRVO.…”

“…Most recently, intravitreous administration of anti-VEGF drugs has gained much interest and the results are promising. 13,14 In a previous study, 15 we showed that the early retinal venous vasoconstriction after grid photocoagulation in BRVO is closely correlated to the visual outcome after three months. This indicates that the BRVO retina is less hypoxic after grid photocoagulation, because hypoxia is a potent vasodilator in retinal vessels.…”

Review of the association between retinal microvascular characteristics and eye disease

“…Clinic‐based studies have shown that the development of macular oedema in eyes with RVO results in retinal venodilation compared to those without macular oedema . Treatment of macular oedema with intra‐vitreal anti‐VEGF agents or argon laser photocoagulation has showed that these treatments reverse the effects of hypoxia and other vaso‐active mediators; resulting in both arteriolar and venular constriction . Another small study found that photocoagulation laser in subjects with branch retinal vein occlusion resulted in narrowing of the occluded venule and its adjacent artery however the vascular calibre in the unaffected hemisphere remained unchanged .…”