Purpose: To prospectively compare results of vein decompression and vitrectomy with hyaloid removal for treating branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).
Methods: Thirty-five eyes with macular edema and visual acuity worse than 20/100 secondary to BRVO were included. Vitrectomy with posterior hyaloid removal and vein decompression at the arteriovenous crossing was performed on 15 patients (Group I); same technique without vein decompression was performed on 20 (Group II).
Results: Group I: After mean follow-up of 33 months, VA improved by two lines or more in 13/15 (87%), one line in 1/15 (6.5%) and remained unchanged in 1/15 (6.5%) eyes. Macular edema resolved in 14/15 (93%). No eyes developed new vessels.
Group II. After mean follow-up of 18 months, VA improved two lines or more in 16/20 (80%), remained unchanged in 2/20 (10%) and deteriorated in 2/20 (10%). Macular edema resolved in 16/20 (80%). No new vessels developed. No differences were found between groups in either age (p 0.566) or preoperative visual acuity (p 0.505). Despite a statistically significant difference in the duration of preoperative interval (p 0.004), no differences were found in post-operative visual results (p 0.147), resolution of macular edema (p 0.098) or prevention of neovascularization.
Conclusion: Results suggest that vitrectomy with posterior hyaloid removal without vein decompression can resolve macular edema, improve visual acuity and prevent development of new vessels in BRVO.