Objective: To evaluate the effect of radial optic neurotomy on visual acuity (VA) and foveal thickness in patients with hemicentral retinal vein occlusion.
Methods: A prospective noncomparative case series of 13 eyes in 13 patients with hemicentral retinal vein occlusion and a preoperative VA of 20/60 or less from a total of 232 retinal vein occlusions diagnosed. All patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy, posterior hyaloid dissection, and radial optic neurotomy at the nasal border of the optic disc.
Results: Visual acuity and macular thickness were measured with optical coherence tomography. Nine patients (69.2%) gained 2 or more Snellen lines of vision, and in 4 patients (30.8%) VA improved by 4 or more Snellen lines (median visual acuity, 20/50; mean VA, 20/45; P<.01) (average gain, 2.7 Snellen lines). The decrease in foveal thickness was statistically significant (P<.01) (median decrease, 297 microm). Final VA was statistically related to decreased macular thickness at optical coherence tomography (P = .03; rho = -0.62). Retinochoroidal shunts developed in 6 patients (46.1%) at the radial optic neurotomy site. No surgical complications were observed.
Conclusions: Radial optic neurotomy seems to be a potential treatment in selected patients with hemicentral retinal vein occlusion, probably because of the more rapid appearance of retinochorioretinal collateral vessels, which promote faster resolution of macular edema.