PURPOSE: Ischemic edema of the retina develops after CRAO and a regressive phase follows usually without any possibility of objectification. The aim of the study is to determine dynamics of edematous changes in the central retina using the OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography). SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Regional Hospital in Pardubice, Czech Republic, E.U. METHODS: During the period between June 2004 and January 2005, ten patients with the diagnosis of CRAO were examined by means of Stratus OCT3 (Zeiss). A protocol designed for analysis of the thickness and volume of the macula (Fast Macular Thickness Map) was used for the evaluation. Obtained readings were compared with the healthy eye. Examinations were performed on the 1st up to the 5th day after the CRAO onset and 2, 5, and 10 weeks thereafter. RESULTS: The average volume of the macula (Average Total Macula Volume) of the affected eye was (mean +/- SD; mm3): at the day of diagnosis (the initial examination) 9.196 +/- 1.376 (range, 10.315-7.301), the 2nd week 7.313 +/- 1.209 (range, 9.441-5.854), the 5th week 5.970 +/- 0.688 (range, 7.401-4.971), and the 10th week 5.091 +/- 0.558 (range, 5.768-3.989). The average volume of the most swollen macular quadrate was (mean +/- SD; mm3): at the day of diagnosis (the initial examination) 0.695 +/- 0.319 (range, 1.526-0.359), the 2nd week 0.607 +/- 0.206 (range, 1.118-0.416), the 5th week 0.520 +/- 0.220 (range, 1.070-0.334), and the 10th week 0.409 +/- 0.195 (range 0.948-0.282). In some patients, the onset of macular atrophy was found 5 weeks after the CRAO. No edema in the macular area was confirmed in any patient 10 weeks after the CRAO. CONCLUSION: On the average, we proved the regression phase of the retinal edema 5 weeks after the CRAO appearance. The OCT examination appears to be a suitable method for the determination of the dynamics of the edematous changes in the macular area after the CRAO.

Ocní oddĕlení Pardubické krajské nemocnice a s a Fakulta zdravotnických studií Univerzity Pardubice