title: The vitreomacular interface in retinal vein occlusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the posterior vitreous adhesion status in patients with a history of central or branch retinal vein occlusion and to compare the results with the natural time-course of posterior vitreous detachment in healthy age-related controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review in terms of the posterior vitreous adhesion status was performed in 132 patients (133 eyes) with a history of a central (CRVO) or branch (BRVO) retinal vein occlusion. All patients underwent vitrectomy. Based on the operation reports, the vitreous adhesion status was classified as attached, partially detached or completely detached. The results were compared to the natural time-course of posterior vitreous detachment development in healthy age-related controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-one eyes met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Fifty-two eyes (64%) had a history of CRVO and 29 eyes (36%) a history of BRVO, respectively. In the CRVO group, the posterior vitreous was attached in 47 eyes (90%) and completely detached in five eyes (10%). In the BRVO group, the posterior vitreous was attached in 27 eyes (93%), partially detached in 1 eye (3%) and completely detached in another eye (3%). A subdivision into age classes and a comparison with healthy age-related controls [data by Weber-Krause & Eckardt (1997) Ophthalmologe, 94, 619-623] showed in patients between 65 and 69 years of age an attached posterior vitreous cortex in 72% in healthy eyes, in 100% in CRVO (p = 0.109) and in 89% in BRVO (p = 0.440), in patients between 70 and 79 years of age an attached posterior vitreous cortex in 56% in healthy eyes, in 86% in CRVO (p = 0.010) and in 100% in BRVO (p = 0.038) and in patients between 80 and 89 years of age an attached posterior vitreous cortex in 43% in healthy eyes, in 100% in CRVO (p = 0.191) and in 67% in BRVO (p = 0.582) (Fisher's exact t-test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with a history of CRVO or BRVO, the posterior vitreous cortex stays attached more frequently in all age groups in comparison with the healthy age-related controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany. thomas.bertelmann@staff.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bertelmann
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kičová
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Messerschmidt-Roth
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Irle
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sekundo
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mennel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D020255:Vitreous Detachment / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery