CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION IN YOUNG INDIVIDUALS

Purpose: To compare the presentation and outcomes of patients younger than 50 years versus patients aged 50 years and older with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Methods: This single-center retrospective study included patients with CRVO presenting between January 2009 and July 2016. Charts were reviewed and data were abstracted. Presenting and final clinical parameters, treatment burden, and predisposing factors for CRVO were compared between the two groups. Results: Thirty-six patients younger than 50 years and 233 patients aged 50 years and older at the time of CRVO onset were included. At presentation, younger patients had better visual acuity than older patients (20/80 vs. 20/224, P = 0.001) and a lower incidence of cystoid macular edema (54 vs. 79%, P = 0.001). Twenty-one of 36 (58%) younger patients had at least one identifiable nontraditional risk factor for CRVO. At final follow-up, younger patients received fewer total intravitreal injections (3.8 ± 5.8 at 34.2 months) compared with older patients (6.5 ± 8.8, at 37.6 months, P = 0.03) and had better final acuity (20/85 vs. 20/289, P = 0.004, respectively). Conclusion: Younger patients had better baseline and final acuities, a lower incidence of cystoid macular edema at presentation, and received fewer intravitreal injections than older patients. Workup for etiology of CRVO in younger patients may reveal nontraditional risk factors for CRVO.