The impact of posterior vitreous adhesion on ischaemia in eyes with retinal vein occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether posterior vitreous adhesion (PVA) contributes to retinal ischaemia in eyes suffering from central (CRVO) or branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).


METHODS
Retrospective patient chart analysis of eyes with CRVO/BRVO receiving pars-plana vitrectomy (ppV). Prior to surgery fluorescence angiography was conducted to classify RVO as ischaemic or not.


RESULTS
Sixty eyes were included, thereof 36 (60%)/24 (40%) with CRVO/BRVO. In the CRVO group, 17 (47%)/19 (53%) eyes were classified as ischaemic/non-ischaemic. Respective results for BRVO-affected eyes were 16 (67%)/8 (33%). PVA/posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) was found in 33 (92%)/3 (8%) eyes with CRVO and in 23 (96%)/1 (4%) patients suffering from BRVO. Value differences of PVA/PVD between ischaemic- and non-ischaemic-typed RVO failed statistical significance for both, CRVO (p = 0.095) and BRVO (p = 1.0).


CONCLUSIONS
Posterior vitreous adhesion had no impact on retinal ischaemia in this investigation. As an attached posterior vitreous cortex acts as a scaffold and thus significantly increases neovascularization (NV) development in ischaemic-typed RVO, a prospective study evaluating the effect of enzymatic vitreolysis is indicated.
Department of Ophthalmology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Thomas
T
Bertelmann
Eye Clinic Aschaffenburg, Germany.
Nadia
N
Kicova
Department of Ophthalmology, Feldkirch Regional Hospital, Feldkirch, Austria.
Stefan
S
Mennel
Eye Clinic Tausendfensterhaus Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany.
Jörg
J
Schmidt
Freelance statistician, Friedberg, Germany.
Sebastian
S
Irle
Department of Ophthalmology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Walter
W
Sekundo
Department of Ophthalmology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Stephan
S
Schulze
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000267:Tissue Adhesions; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020255:Vitreous Detachment / Q000503:physiopathology*
branch retinal vein occlusion; central retinal vein occlusion; enzymatic vitreolysis; neovascularization; posterior vitreous detachment; retinal ischaemia; retinal vein occlusion; vitreoretinal attachment; vitreoretinal traction