Sequential Observations of Conversion from Nonischemic to Ischemic Central Retinal Vein Occlusion Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Abstract

We report the sequential changes of retinal vessels observed by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in a case of nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) that converted to ischemic CRVO. An 81-year-old woman visited our Retina Clinic because of visual acuity loss in the left eye. Funduscopic examination showed venous tortuosity and intraretinal hemorrhage in all four quadrants of the fundus. OCT showed macular edema. Fluorescein angiography (FA) and OCTA showed loss of small capillaries. Nonischemic CRVO was diagnosed. Antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment resolved the edema and improved visual acuity. However, during follow-up, capillary dropout was observed on OCTA, which gradually enlarged. Eventually, FA confirmed the conversion to ischemic CRVO. In this case, sequential observations using OCTA showed that nonischemic CRVO did not convert to ischemic CRVO abruptly but occurred stepwise. Additionally, vascular changes began around the veins and blood flow changes were observed more clearly in deep capillary plexus than in superficial capillary plexus.