2M.D. Professor, ,Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Adana/TURKEY Purpose: To evaluate intraocular pressure measurements and ocular axial length as a risk factor in retinal vein occlusion.
Materials and Methods: 120 patients with retinal vein occlusion enrolled in the study. Ocular axial lengths were measured by A-scan ultrasonography. Axial lengths of affected, contralateral unaffected eyes and control groups were compared. We evaluated the age, sex, type of occlusion, value of intraocular pressure and systemic diseases predisposing to retinal vein occlusion.
Results: Fifty-seven patients were female, 63 patients were male and the mean age was 61.9±9.4 years. Elevation of intraocular pressure was observed in 15 eyes (30.6%) of 49 patients with central retinal vein occlusion and in 7 eyes (9.9%) of 71 patients with branch retinal vein occlusion. In patients with retinal vein occlusion the mean axial length of affected eyes was 22.2±0.9 mm and of unaffected eyes was 22.6±0.9 mm. The mean axial length of control group was 22.8±0.9 mm. Statistically significant difference between retinal vein occlusion and control group was detected.
Conclusion: Short axial length is an important risk factor for development of retinal vein occlusion. Elevation of intraocular pressure is often observed in these patients. It is important to exclude systemic risk factors and glaucoma in the fellow eye of any patient with retinal vein occlusion to reduce the risk of that eye developing retinal vein occlusion and glaucomatous damage.
Keywords : Retinal vein occlusion, intraocular pressure, axial length