[Studies on vitrectomy cases associated with complicated branch retinal vein occlusion].

PURPOSE To examine the factors affecting visual outcome in vitrectomized cases associated with complicated branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). MATERIALS AND METHODS Of 114 eyes of 113 patients with BRVO, ages, general complications, distribution of occluding vessels, location of retinal breaks, classification of vitreoretinal pathology and number of cases, period from onset of BRVO to vitreous hemorrhage and from vitreous hemorrhage to vitrectomy, number of operations, relationship between posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and number of operations, post and preoperative pholocoagulation status, pre and postoperative visual acuity, and cases with poor visual outcome were analyzed. RESULTS The visual prognosis was much better in the cases with vitreous hemorrhages only than those with proliferative membrane and retinal detachment (p = 0.0029). Repeated operations were needed in the cases of incomplete PVD (p = 0.0023). CONCLUSIONS Early vitrectomy, especially in the cases of incomplete PVD, seems to be essential for management and treatment for better visual acuity.