Visual outcomes in five different approaches for treatment of central retinal vein occlusion.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Four treatment methods for central retinal vein occlusion were compared with its natural course.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this partially prospective, comparative, interventional case series on 63 eyes with central retinal vein occlusion, five approaches were compared: intravitreal triamcinolone injection; radial optic neurotomy; combined radial optic neurotomy and intraocular triamcinolone injection; combined internal limiting membrane peeling, radial optic neurotomy, and intraocular triamcinolone; and observation.

RESULTS: Final visual acuity in the intravitreal triamcinolone group was better compared with the observation (P = .025), radial optic neurotomy (P = .037), combined radial optic neurotomy/intraocular triamcinolone injection (P = .401), and combined internal limiting membrane peeling, radial optic neurotomy, and intraocular triamcinolone injection (P = .023) groups. However, after adjustment for baseline visual acuity, the only treatment method with significant visual acuity improvement in relation to the observation group was the combined radial optic neurotomy/intraocular triamcinolone injection (P = .025, .023, and .054 at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively).

CONCLUSION: Among the five different approaches analyzed in this study, combined radial optic neurotomy and intraocular triamcinolone injection may provide a better visual outcome in the management of central retinal vein occlusion.