Arteriovenous adventitial sheathotomy for the treatment of macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion

PURPOSE: To report arteriovenous adventitial sheathotomy for treatment of m acular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion. METHODS: Case reports a with review. Five eyes of five patients with best-c orrected visual acuity of less than 20/200 secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion had pars plana vitrectomy and arteriovenous adventitial sheathot omy and were followed postoperatively for a mean of 6.5 years (range, 5 to 7 years). RESULTS: In four of five eyes, the best-corrected visual acuity improved to 20/30 to 20/70. In the remaining eye, visual acuity remained at finger cou nting secondary to macular ischemia. CONCLUSION: Arteriovenous adventitial sheathotomy may be beneficial for sel ect patients with poor vision secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion. ( Am J Ophthalmol 2000;129:104-106. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rig hts reserved.)