OPHTHALMODYNAMOMETRY AND CORTICOSTEROIDS IN CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION

Purpose: This is the first report of the monitoring of the clinical pr ogress of a central retinal vein occlusion by measuring the retinal ve nous collapse pressure using ophthalmodynamometry. Method: A 38-year-o ld woman with a non-ischaemic central retinal vein occlusion received systemic prednisone. The dose of prednisone was increased and decrease d both abruptly and gradually. The response was monitored by weekly me asurements of visual acuity, retinal appearance and retinal venous col lapse pressure. The retinal appearance was assessed by comparison of r epeated stereo colour photographs and fluorescein angiographs. Retinal venous collapse pressure was estimated by taking the mean of four or more ophthalmodynamometric measurements. Results: An inverse relations hip between the ophthalmodynamometric retinal venous collapse pressure and systemic prednisone dosage was observed. The visual acuity and re tinal appearance remained unchanged throughout the follow-up. Conclusi ons: Ophthalmodynamometry in this case was a useful method of quantita tively monitoring the response of central retinal vein occlusion to sy stemic prednisone. The response would not have been detected if only v isual acuity and retinal appearance were used to monitor the progress.