Role of posterior vitreous detachment induced by intravitreal tissue plasminogen activator in macular edema with central retinal vein occlusion.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in macular edema associated with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) treated with intravitreal tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).

METHODS

The authors conducted a retrospective study of 36 eyes of 36 patients with macular edema by CRVO treated with intravitreal tPA. In 16 of 21 eyes without pretreatment PVD, PVD developed after the treatment. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity (VA) changes and several variables.

RESULTS

The VA and macular thickness significantly improved after treatment. The pretreatment logMAR VA (R = 0.646; P < 0.0001), PVD development after tPA (R = -0.303; P = 0.025), and age (R = 0.255; P = 0.050) correlated with the logMAR VA at final visit. The greater improvement in logMAR VA was correlated only with PVD development (R = 0.467; P = 0.0041). Macular thickness in the eyes with PVD development was significantly less than without PVD development at the 6-month visit and the end of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that PVD development after intravitreal tPA may partly contribute to the resolution of macular edema and a better VA outcome.