To assess whether axial length and refraction are risk factors for retinal vein occlusion, we measured these parameters in 88 consecutive patients with unilateral branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), in 58 consecutive patients with unilateral central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and in 50 patients selected as a control group. Patients and controls were free or affected by systemic or local predisposing factors. We compared eyes with CRVO with control eyes, eyes with BRVO with control eyes, and eyes with CRVO with eyes with BRVO. Comparing CRVO eyes and controls, none of the investigated variables was shown to be significant. From the analysis of BRVO eyes versus controls, it resulted that refraction was the only variable which played the role of an independent prognostic factor. When comparing BRVO eyes with CRVO eyes, we found that age was slightly related to the development of BRVO. In conclusion, faulty refraction appeared to be a risk factor for the development of BRVO. We did not find any influence of axial length on the occlusion of retinal veins.

Keywords:
Axial length, Branch retinal vein occlusion, Central retinal vein occlusion, Refraction
1.
Appiah AP, Trempe CL: Risk factors associated with branch versus central retinal vein occlusion. Ann Ophthalmol 1989;21:153–157.
2.
Cole MD, Dodson PM, Hendeles S: Medical conditions underlying retinal vein occlusion in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Br J Ophthalmol 1989;73:693–698.
3.
Bandello F, D’Angelo A, Viganò D’Angelo S, Tavola A, Della Valle P, Brancato R: Mechanisms of hypercoagulability in patients with central retinal vein occlusion. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1992;33(suppl):805.
4.
Bandello F, Viganò D’Angelo S, Parlavecchia M, Tavola A, Della Valle P, Brancato R, D’Angelo A: Hypercoagulability and high lipoprotein(a) levels in patients with central retinal vein occlusion. Thromb Haemost 1994;72:39–43.
5.
Green WR, Chan CC, Hutchins GM, Terry GM: Central retinal vein occlusion: A prospective histopathologic study of 29 eyes in 28 cases. Retina 1981;1:27–55.
6.
Williams GW, Braunwald E: Hypertensive vascular diseases; in Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, Petersdorf RG, Wilson JD, Martin JB, Fauci AS (eds): Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, ed 11. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1987, pp 1024–1037.
7.
Foster DW: Diabetes mellitus; in Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, Petersdorf RG, Wilson JD, Martin JB, Fauci AS (eds): Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, ed 11. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1987, pp 1778–1796.
8.
The Expert Panel: Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood cholesterol in adults. Arch Intern Med 1988;148:36–69.
9.
The International Committee for the Evaluation of Hypertriglyceridemia as a Vascular Risk Factor: The hypertriglyceridemias: Risk and management. Am J Cardiol 1991;68:1A–42A.
10.
Selwyn AP, Braunwald E: Ischemic heart disease; in Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, Petersdorf RG, Wilson JD, Martin JB, Fauci AS (eds): Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, ed 11. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1987, pp 975–982.
11.
Bierman EL: Atherosclerosis and other forms of arteriosclerosis; in Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, Petersdorf RG, Wilson JD, Martin JB, Fauci AS (eds): Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, ed 11. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1987, pp 1014–1024.
12.
Kansky JJ: Glaucoma; in Kansky JJ: Clinical Ophthalmology: A Systematic Approach, ed 2. London: Butterworth, 1989, p 191.
13.
Hayreh SS: Classification of central retinal vein occlusion. Ophthalmology 1983;90:458–474.
14.
Quinlan PM, Elman MJ, Chaudhary A: The natural history of central retinal vein occlusion. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1987;28(suppl):319.
15.
Johnston RL, Brucker AJ, Steinmann W, Hoffman ME, Holmes JH: Risk factors of branch retinal vein occlusion. Arch Ophthalmol 1985;103:1831–1832.
16.
Brown MM, Brown GC, Menduke H: Central retinal vein obstruction and axial length. Ophthalmic Surg 1990;21:623–624.
17.
Kumar A, Ahuja S, Tewari HK, Khosla PK, Azad RV: Short axial length: Risk factor for central retinal vein occlusion. Ann Ophthalmol Glaucoma 1994;26:145–147.
18.
Simons BD, Brucker AJ, Manning FH: Relation of axial length and branch retinal vein occlusion. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1994;35(suppl):2086.
1998
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.