Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the association between retinal microvascular abnormalities and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Design Case-controlled study. Participants 58 cases of BRVO in Handan Eye Hospital and 200 control cases of non-BRVO with age-and gender-matched normal eyes from the population based Handan Eye Study. Methods Fundus ditated photographs for both eyes were obtained in all subjects. Signs of focal microvascular abnormalities were qualitatively evaluated from photographs. Retinal vascular caliber measurements were performed using IVAN software, Australia. Main Outcome Measures Focal arteriolar narrowing (FAN), arteriovenous nicking (AVN), opacification of arteriolar wall (OPAC), central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE), central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) and arteriole-to-venule ratio (AVR). Results Among all BRVO patients, the mean CRAE was 136.0±20.7 μm, and the mean CRVE was 207.2±23.1 μm, and AVR was 0.66±0.13. The mean CRAE, CRVE and AVR of the control eyes were 152.0±19.3 μm, 235.3±29.7 μm and 0.65±0.06, respectively. After adjusting for age, gender, hypertension and diabetes, patients with BRVO were significantly more likely to have FAN, AVN and OPAC signs, with the adjusted odds ratios of 5.65 (95%CI=1.77~18.03), 3.42 (95%CI=1.48~7.89) and 3.44 (95%CI=1.44~8.24) than non-BRVO subjects, respectively(All P<0.05). Conclusions Eyes with BRVO had narrow CRAE and CRVE when compared with age-and gender-matched normal eyes. Our findings demonstrate a strong relation between BRVO and retinal microvascular changes. (Ophthalmol CHN, 2012, 21: 239-243)

Key words:  branch retinal vein occlusion, retinal microvascular changes, retinal vessel caliber