Lack of predictive value of retinal oxygen saturation for visual outcome after angiostatic treatment of branch retinal vein occlusion

• Published in: Acta ophthalmologica (Oxford, England) England), 2022-05, Vol.100 (3), p.e737-e742
• Main Authors: Jeppesen, Signe Krejberg, Bek, Toke
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acuity; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; anti‐VEGF treatment; branch retinal venules; Humans; Intravitreal Injections; Occlusion; Oxygen; Oxygen Saturation; Patients; Ranibizumab; Retina; retinal oximetry; retinal oxygen saturation; retinal vein occlusion; Retinal Vein Occlusion - chemically induced; Retinal Vein Occlusion - diagnosis; Retinal Vein Occlusion - drug therapy; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Treatment Outcome; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Veins & arteries
• ISSN: 1755-375X; 1755-3768
• DOI: 10.1111/aos.14988

Purpose Previous studies have shown that the retinal oxygen saturation in central retinal vein occlusion treated with anti‐VEGF compound has no predictive value for visual outcome after 12 months. It is of interest to evaluate whether this conclusion is similar for patients with branch retinal vein occlusion among whom only some patients are treated. Methods Retinal oxygen saturation, visual acuity and central retinal thickness were studied at the time of referral and after six and 12 months in 111 patients successively referred to the Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, with a venous occlusion affecting branches peripheral from the central retinal venule. The predictive value of the oxygen saturation at referral was investigated in treated and untreated patients. Results Seventy‐three patients with visual acuity between 35 and 70 ETDRS letters at referral were treated with intravitreal injection of anti‐VEGF compound. Over 12 months, the venous oxygen saturation improved in parallel with central retinal thickness and visual acuity but had no predictive value for visual outcome. In 12 untreated patients with visual acuity >70 ETDRS letters, younger age and high oxygen saturation at the time of referral were positive predictors for the visual outcome after 12 months. Conclusion Oxygen saturation, visual acuity and central retinal thickness improve in parallel during treatment of branch retinal vein occlusion with intravitreal anti‐VEGF medication. Retinal oximetry at referral cannot predict visual acuity after 12 months in treated patients but may perhaps become a tool for predicting the visual prognosis in a subgroup of patients where treatment is omitted because of a too high visual acuity at the time of diagnosis of the disease.