BILATERAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION

Bilateral retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is relatively uncommon. In a re trospective review of 107 patients with RVO who were older than 16 yea rs of age, 17 (15.88%) had bilateral RVO. Bilateral central RVO and bi lateral branch RVO were observed in 2.8% and 3.74% of cases, respectiv ely. Diabetes mellitus with co-existing diabetic retinopathy was more prevalent in the bilateral RVO group than in the unilateral RVO group (P <0.05). Patients in the unilateral RVO group who had diabetes melli tus and diabetic retinopathy were found to be at higher risk for bilat eral disease (RR = 2.89; Taylor series 95% CI 1.24, 6.75; P <0.05).