Purpose: To investigate the change in localization of recurrent or persistent macular edema (ME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) after a therapeutic intervention.
Methods: Twenty-six eyes of 23 patients with recurrent or persistent ME secondary to BRVO were included in this retrospective case series. We analyzed the distance between the fovea and the top of the ME (fovea-ME top distance) and the ME area using optical coherence tomography before treatment and when ME recurred or persisted.
Results: The fovea-ME top distance decreased from 1.8 ± 1.6 to 1.2 ± 1.3 mm (p = 0.008). The ME area also decreased from 11.9 ± 4.9 to 7.6 ± 5.0 mm(2) (p = 0.0003). The retinal vascular leakage area correlated with the ME area in all eyes.
Conclusion: The site of recurrent or persistent ME tends to shift toward the fovea. These results suggest that residual perifoveal vascular leakage might be the predominant cause of recurrent or persistent ME.
Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.