Risk factors for ocular neovascularization after central retinal artery occlusion

Background: To report the incidence and risk factors associated with ocular neovascularization (NV) in patients with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). Methods: This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with acute CRAO in a single tertiary center. Medical charts were reviewed for ocular NV occurrences. We analyzed systemic and ocular conditions on first visit and demographic data. Results: Eighty-seven eyes were eligible for this study. Among these, 13 eyes had ocular NV after CRAO, with an incidence of 15%. The prevalences of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, history of stroke, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and age at first visit were higher among patients with ocular NV than among patients without ocular NV after CRAO. Moreover, most patients with CKD in the ocular NV group had undergone dialysis. A multivariate regression analysis revealed that CKD (hazard ratio [HR]: 9.27, 95% CI, 1.87-46.05, p = 0.006) and glaucoma history (HR: 7.52, 95% CI, 1.14-49.46, p = 0.036) were significant risk factors for developing ocular NV among patients with CRAO. Conclusion: CKD and glaucoma history were significant risk factors for developing ocular NV after CRAO, particularly among patients that underwent dialysis.