BLOOD-LEVELS IN MACULAR CYSTOID SPACES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO RETINAL VEIN OBSTRUCTION

Background: Blood levels in macular cystoid spaces are commonly seen i n patients with branch or central retinal vein obstruction, but have n ot been previously reported. Methods: To determine blood levels in cys toid spaces, a retrospective study was conducted of 102 eyes with bran ch retinal vein obstruction, 54 eyes with central retinal vein obstruc tion, 207 eyes with clinically significant diabetic macular edema, and 109 eyes with aphakic or pseudophakic cystoid macular edema seen over a 5-year period. Results: Definite blood levels in cystoid spaces wer e found in 26 eyes (25%) with branch vein obstruction and in 4 eyes (8 %) with central vein obstruction. In contrast, this clinical change wa s detected in only 1 of 207 eyes (1%) with diabetic cystoid macular ed ema, and in only 2 of 109 eyes (2%) with aphakic or pseudophakic cysto id macular edema (P < 0.001). When blood levels in cystoid spaces were detected in patients with branch vein obstruction, the site of obstru ction tended to be superotemporal (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Blood levels in cystoid spaces are an important sign of retinal vein obstruction, and may help establish the diagnosis in certain cases.