MACULAR THICKNESS MEASUREMENTS IN CENTRAL RETINAL ARTERY OCCLUSION BY OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY

Purpose: To evaluate the structural features of central retinal artery occlusion by means of optical coherence tomography. Methods: Eleven consecutive patients with acute central retinal artery occlusion and at least 3-month follow-up were enrolled prospectively in this study. The main outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity, foveal thickness (FT), and total macular volume by optical coherence tomography. Results: Five male and six female patients with central retinal artery occlusion were examined. The mean age was 71.2 +/- 8.7 years (range, 59-83 years). Mean FT and total macular volume were 195 +/- 26 mu m and 6.41 +/- 0.33 mm(3), respectively, in normal fellow eyes, increased to 299 +/- 76 mu m and 7.90 +/- 0.93 mm(3), respectively, at initial examination and declined to 167 +/- 30 mu m and 4.85 +/- 0.68 mm(3), respectively, at 3-month follow-up. Mean reduction in FT was 181 +/- 61 mu m (range, 120-270 mu m) in eyes with poor visual outcome and 43 +/- 25 mu m (range, 15-74 mu m) in eyes with fair visual outcome. Statistical analysis revealed that the relationships among visual prognosis and initial FT and initial total macular volume were not significant. Conclusion: Optical coherence tomography provides special information about central retinal artery occlusion. There were marked and variable changes in FT and total macular volume. Limited reduction in macular thickness might indicate a fair visual outcome. RETINA 31: 730-737, 2011