RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RETINAL THICKNESS AND VISUAL ACUITY IN EYES WITH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION TREATED WITH DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT.

PubMed ID: 26655606

Author(s): Danis RP, Sadda S, Jiao J, Li XY, Whitcup SM. Relationship vetween retinal thickness and visual acuity in eyes with retinal vein occlusion treated with dexamethasone implant. Retina. 2016 Jun;36(6):1170-6. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000000851. PMID 26655606

Journal: Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.), Volume 36, Issue 6, Jun 2016

PURPOSE To evaluate the relationship between changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) in eyes from two clinical trials of dexamethasone intravitreal implant 0.7 mg for macular edema after branch or central retinal vein occlusion.

METHODS Patients with vision loss as a result of macular edema (≥6-week duration) after branch retinal vein occlusion or central retinal vein occlusion were treated with a single dexamethasone intravitreal implant or sham. Prospectively defined outcomes included BCVA and CRT (as assessed by optical coherence tomography).

RESULTS There was a modest but statistically significant negative linear correlation between changes in CRT and changes in BCVA in both treatment groups at Days 90 and 180 (correlation coefficient: -0.23 to -0.34; P < 0.001). Improvements in BCVA at Day 180 were significantly greater (P < 0.001) in eyes that achieved and maintained CRT ≤250 μm from Day 90 to 180 (mean BCVA improvement: 14 letters; 49% of eyes with ≥15-letter gain) than in eyes that never achieved CRT ≤250 μm (mean BCVA improvement: 2 letters; 13% of eyes with ≥15-letter gain).

CONCLUSION The greatest improvements in BCVA were seen in eyes that achieved and maintained the greatest improvements in CRT.