THE EFFECT OF POSTERIOR VITREOUS DETACHMENT ON THE PROGNOSIS OF BRANCH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION

Purpose: Two important complications causing visual loss in retinal br anch vein occlusions are vitreous hemorrhage due to retinal neovascula rization and persistent macular edema. The aim of this study was to id entify the effect of the total posterior vitreous detachment on the di sease prognosis. Methods: Fifty-three patients with temporal branch ve in obstruction were followed for eighteen months on average. The vitre ous conditions of all patients were established, and the effect on per sistent macular edema and retinal neovascularization development was s tatistically investigated. Results: This prospective study shows that total posterior vitreous detachment has a clear preventive effect on b oth complications. Conclusion: Careful vitreous examinations of all pa tients with branch retinal vein occlusion give us important informatio n about the prognosis and patient management.