Branch retinal artery occlusion: visual prognosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the visual prognosis in eyes with branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO).


METHODS
Retrospective, observational, consecutive case series.


METHODS
Retrospective medical record review of 52 consecutive eyes of 52 patients with BRAO seen at two vitreoretinal practices in Birmingham, Alabama. Only eyes with decreased central macular perfusion on fluorescein angiography (FA) were included. Eyes with anterior segment or optic nerve disease, lack of retinal whitening or a delay in arterial filling on FA, central retinal artery occlusion, and cilioretinal artery occlusion were excluded. The main outcome measure was presenting best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and its relationship to final BCVA.


RESULTS
On presentation, 54% of eyes with BRAO had BCVA of 20/40 or better. At the mean 14-month visit, 60% of all eyes had visual acuity (VA) of 20/40 or better. VAs of 20/40 or better were retained by 89% of eyes with baseline BCVA of 20/40 or better. Only 14% of eyes with 20/100 or worse BCVA improved to 20/40 or better. Neither visible emboli (P > or = .244) nor the region of macular involvement (P = .142) were significant with respect to visual improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Visual prognosis after BRAO seems to be correlated to presenting VA. Eyes with initial VA of 20/40 or better usually remained at 20/40 or better. Individuals with poor VA of 20/100 or worse generally did not show the significant improvement reported in previous studies.
Mason
John O
JO
Retina Consultants of Alabama, Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital, 700 South 18th Street, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA. johnomasonmd@gmail.com
Shah
Ami A
AA
Vail
Rachel S
RS
Nixon
Peter A
PA
Ready
Edgar L
EL
Kimble
James A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*