A recent study of 43 patients employed en-face swept-source OCT-angiography (OCT-A) to evaluate the correlation between changes in the macular capillary network and macular edema recurrence with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

The 43 patients were treatment-naïve for macula edema associated with BRVO. Those who received intravitreal bevacizumab were divided into two groups based on macular edema recurrence at six months. The researchers then retrospectively analyzed perifoveal capillary morphology and macular capillary vessel density with en-face OCT-A after edema resolution.

They found that perifoveal capillary ring loss in the superficial capillary plexus and deep capillary plexus was more common in the macular edema recurrence group (n=22) than in those without macular edema. Additionally, within the edema recurrence group, the researchers noted more severe destruction of the perifoveal capillary ring in the deep capillary plexus than in the superficial capillary plexus.

They concluded that the destruction of the perifoveal capillary ring and hemi-vessel density disparity could be related to edema recurrence in BRVO. “These factors may be helpful in predicting [macular edema] recurrence,” the researchers said.