Visual acuity and multifocal electroretinographic changes after arteriovenous crossing sheathotomy for macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of arteriovenous (AV) sheathotomy on retinal function with central multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) in eyes with macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).


METHODS
Fifteen patients (15 eyes) who underwent AV sheathotomy for macular edema secondary to BRVO were included in the study. Best-corrected visual acuity and mfERG responses from the most central seven hexagons were analyzed before and 6 months after the operation.


RESULTS
The mean preoperative Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) score +/- SD was 34.1 +/- 12.7 letters (Snellen equivalent, 20/50) and significantly improved up to 40.5 +/- 10.9 letters (Snellen equivalent, 20/40) at 6 months after AV sheathotomy (P = 0.027, Wilcoxon signed rank test). The mean preoperative P1 amplitude +/- SD of the most central 7 hexagons was 39.30 +/- 10.86 nV/deg(2) for the affected eye versus 47.72 +/- 6.67 nV/deg(2) for the normal fellow (control) eye (P = 0.013, Mann-Whitney U test) and significantly increased up to 50.71 +/- 15.58 nV/deg at 6 months after the operation (P = 0.014, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Significant correlations between preoperative and postoperative ETDRS score and preoperative P1 amplitude were present (r = 0.929, P < 0.001; r = 0.768, P = 0.001; respectively [Spearman correlation]).


CONCLUSIONS
AV sheathotomy improved macular function and anatomical outcome as measured by ETDRS score and mfERG responses in patients with macular edema due to BRVO.
Chung
Eun Jee
EJ
The Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Sodaemun-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
Freeman
William R
WR
Koh
Hyoung Jun
HJ
D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology*; D012161:Retinal Artery; D012169:Retinal Vein; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D014821:Vitrectomy