Regional Choroidal Thickness Changes in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion with Macular Edema

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate regional changes in choroidal thickness in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) patients with macular edema. Methods: Choroidal thickness in the subfoveal, occlusive, and nonocclusive areas in BRVO eyes was measured using enhanced depth imaging by spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The choroidal thickness was compared with the corresponding values both in the fellow eye and in normal controls at baseline. Regional changes in choroidal thickness were then evaluated in the BRVO eyes after intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injections. Results: Regional choroidal thickness was measured in 57 eyes at baseline. The mean choroidal thickness of the occlusive area was significantly higher than that of the nonocclusive, subfoveal, and corresponding areas in the fellow eyes and normal controls (p < 0.001). The choroidal thickness in the occlusive area correlated with the retinal thickness in both the central and occlusive areas (rho = 0.590, p < 0.001, and rho = 0.351, p = 0.011, respectively), but not with visual acuity. After IVB, the choroidal thickness in the occlusive area had decreased significantly (p = 0.004), but remained higher than that of other areas (p < 0.001 and p = 0.026). Conclusion: In acute BRVO eyes, the choroid is thicker in the occlusive area. This difference is correlated with the severity of macular edema, but not with visual acuity. Bevacizumab reduces choroidal thickness, but does not restore normal values.

Optical coherence tomography angiography microvascular findings in macular edema due to central and branch retinal vein occlusions

“…Some studies showed in RVOs an increase of subfoveal choroidal thickness complicated by macular edema compared to controls with a reduction after intravitreal treatment either with steroid implant or anti VEGF2021. They hypothesize choroid vessel dilation due VEGF hyper expression.…”

Comparison of subfoveal choroidal thickness in eyes with CRVO and BRVO

“…In our study, we collected the resent-onset and treatment-naïve patients, who were at acute phase, and our results were consistent with Tsuiki's findings. Furthermore, several studies demonstrated that choroidal thickness in RVO eyes decreased significantly following anti-VEGF treatment [12,13,16,37] , however, Park Jongyeop and colleagues reported that no SFCT change was found after anti-VEGF treatment [9] . The possible cause of this conflicting result might be the different follow-up period.…”

Correlations between choroidal thickness and renal function in patients with retinal vein occlusion

“…In addition, we found that SFChT was greater in eyes with RVO than in normal fellow eyes. Several studies reported that the choroid was significantly thicker in eyes with RVO or the occlusive area than in contralateral eyes or the non-occlusive area 9 , 24 – 26 . Our results were consistent with these studies.…”

“…The second possible explanation is that the choroid becomes edematous passively by the intravitreal elevation of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level. Several studies showed that choroidal thickness in eyes with RVO decreased after anti-VEGF injection 24,28 . From these previous studies, we can hypothesize that the choroid tissue is sensitive to intravitreal VEGF concentration.…”