ACUTE RETINAL ISCHEMIA IN CENTRAL VERSUS BRANCH RETINAL ARTERY OCCLUSION Changes in Retinal Layers' Thickness on Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Different Grades of Retinal Ischemia

摘要

Purpose: To compare changes in thickness of separate retinal layers between acute central and branch retinal artery occlusion (RAO) regarding the severity grade of retinal ischemia using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Methods: Design: retrospective, observational case-control series. Setting: institutional. Patients: 114 patients with acute RAO. Examinations were conducted with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography at the first visit (baseline). Observations: RAO was categorized as branch (43 patients) or central RAO (71 patients) clinically. Retinal artery occlusion was categorized into the 3 grades "incomplete," "subtotal," and "total," based on optical coherence tomography findings. Thickness of several retinal layers was evaluated on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images. Obtained data were compared between the 3 grades and between central and branch RAO. The contralateral eyes were used as controls. Main outcome measures: thickness of selected retinal layers. Results: Thickness of selected inner retinal layers and central foveal thickness increased statistically significant according to the severity grade (healthy = incomplete < subtotal < total). In each severity grade, there was no significant difference in retinal layers' thickness between branch and central RAO, except for central foveal thickness. Conclusion: Thickness increase of selected retinal layers follows-except for central foveal thickness-the same pattern in central and branch RAO. Retinal layers' thickness increases significantly with the higher ischemia grade in both central and branch RAO.