Optociliary veins and central retinal vein occlusion.

In a follow up of 94 patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) whose onset had taken place less than 1 year earlier, optociliary veins (OCVs) were found in 7.4% at first examination. Among the 79 eyes in which the fundus of the eye was very visible after a follow up of more than 1 year OCVs were found in 30.4%, showing a late development of OCVs in many cases of CRVO. No difference was found in the occurrence of OCVs between non-ischaemic and ischaemic forms of CRVO. The visual acuity of the eyes with CRVO that developed OCVs was not significantly different from the visual acuity of the eyes without OCVs. Thus, the presence of OCVs in CRVO does not seem to be associated with better visual prognosis.