Nanophthalmos and hemiretinal vein occlusion

Abstract

Many risk factors have been linked to retinal vein occlusions (RVOs) whether central or branch retinal vein occlusion. Ocular risk factors include glaucoma and hypermetropia. Controversy exists to whether short axial length is a risk factor for retinal vein occlusions. We report an extreme case that supports the latter hypothesis. A 33-year-old male presented with decreased visual acuity in the left eye. He turned out to have nanophthalmos with hemiretinal vein occlusion and macular edema with unremarkable systemic work up for retinal vein occlusion except for a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of 7%. To our knowledge this is the first case report of hemiretinal vein occlusion in the setting of nanophthalmos and suggests that short axial length may be a risk factor for retinal vein occlusion.