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 μm and 6.41 ± 0.33 mm, respectively, in normal fellow eyes, increased to 299 ± 76 μm and 7.90 ± 0.93 mm, respectively, at initial examination and declined to 167 ± 30 μm and 4.85 ± 0.68 mm, respectively, at 3-month follow-up. Mean reduction in FT was 181 ± 61 μm (range, 120-270 μm) in eyes with poor visual outcome and 43 ± 25 μm (range, 15-74 μm) 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.