A randomised prospective study of outpatient haemodilution for central retinal vein obstruction

Abstract

Purpose: Central retinal vein obstruction (CRVO) has significant visual morbidity. We prospectively evaluated an outpatient haemodilution (HD) regimen for CRVO. Methods: We recruited 59 patients with CRVO of less than three months' duration and visual acuity (VA) worse than or equal to 6/9.5. Thirty patients underwent HD (packed cell volume of < 0.35, 12 weeks); there were 29 controls and follow-up was for six months. Results: Incidence rates for VA improvement (P=0.708) and rubeosis iridis (P=0.619) between the two groups were not different. The incidence rate of VA deterioration was 5.315 times higher with HD (P=0.035, Cox Proportional analysis). Conclusion: This data does not support the previous studies on haemodilution.