RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ABNORMALITIES OF PHOTORECEPTOR MICROSTRUCTURES AND MICROVASCULAR STRUCTURES DETERMINED BY OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY IN EYES WITH BRANCH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION.

Abstract

To determine whether the size of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) is significantly correlated with the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and to examine the relationship between the size and microstructural changes of the photoreceptors in eyes with a branch retinal vein occlusion. The medical records of 69 eyes of patients (mean age, 64.6 ± 11.7 years) with a branch retinal vein occlusion were reviewed after the resolution of macular edema. All the patients underwent optical coherence tomography angiography for measurement of the FAZ area and spectral domain optical coherence tomography for determination of microstructural changes of the photoreceptors at the fovea. The superficial and deep FAZ areas in eyes with a branch retinal vein occlusion were 0.39 ± 0.36 mm and 0.63 ± 0.18 mm, respectively, and both were significantly larger than those observed in the fellow eyes (both, P < 0.001). The superficial FAZ area correlated with the posttreatment BCVA (r = 0.285, P = 0.027) but not with any parameters regarding the microstructures of the photoreceptors. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the pretreatment BCVA (β = 0.519, P < 0.001) and integrity of the external limiting membrane (β = -0.373, P = 0.001) were independent factors that significantly correlated with the posttreatment BCVA. There was no significant correlation between the FAZ area and microstructural parameters. However, the integrity of the external limiting membrane was significantly correlated with the posttreatment BCVA in eyes with a branch retinal vein occlusion.