To estimate the central retinal vein pressure in patients with ischemic vs nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Prospective clinical observational comparative study.

The study included 28 patients with CRVO, either of the ischemic type (n = 7) or the nonischemic type (n = 21). The control group consisted of 38 subjects without retinal disease. A new ophthalmodynamometer consisting of a Goldmann contact lens fitted with a pressure sensor into the holding grip of the contact lens, was used to indirectly estimate the central retinal artery and vein pressure.

Central retinal vein pressure was significantly higher in the ischemic CRVO group than in the nonischemic CRVO group (91.5 ± 30.1 arbitrary units vs 52.4 ± 32.5 arbitrary units; P = .014), in which it was significantly (P < .001) higher than in the control group (4.8 ± 8.1 arbitrary units). Central retinal vein pressure was higher than the diastolic central retinal artery pressure significantly (P = .039) more frequently in the ischemic CRVO group (7/7 or 100%) than in the nonischemic CRVO group (8/21 or 38%) or the control group (0/38; P < .001). Central retinal artery pressure was significantly (P = .017) lower in the ischemic CRVO group (46.0 ± 10.6 arbitrary units) than in the nonischemic CRVO group (64.5 ± 22.8 arbitrary units), in which it was significantly (P = .016) lower than in the control group (79.9 ± 22.3 arbitrary units).

Ophthalmodynamometric estimation of the retinal vein pressure may be helpful for the differentiation between the ischemic vs nonischemic type of CRVO. In the ischemic type, vein pulsations were usually observed at supradiastolic arterial values.