Purpose:

To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of young patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Methods:

This retrospective cohort study involved treatment-naïve patients with CRVO. Medical records regarding basic demographics, predisposing factors, ocular characteristics, and treatments were reviewed and compared according to age at CRVO onset.

Results:

We enrolled 263 patients, of whom 69 were younger patients. Younger patients had higher prevalence of nontraditional risk factors including physical or psychological stress (P= 0.032), hematologic abnormalities (P= 0.003), and better visual acuity at baseline and last visit (all P< 0.001) and were unlikely to undergo intravitreal injections (47.8 vs. 68.6%, P< 0.001) during follow-up. Younger patients had higher prevalence of paracentral acute middle maculopathy (28.1 vs. 4.7%, P< 0.001). Older age (odds ratio= 1.165, P= 0.028), male sex (odds ratio= 7.074, P= 0.034), coexisting renal disease (odds ratio= 7.845, P= 0.050), and poor baseline visual acuity (odds ratio= 16.069, P= 0.002) were significant risk factors for poor visual outcomes in young CRVO patients.

Conclusion:

Younger CRVO patients had a milder clinical course with fewer treatments and were more likely to have nontraditional risk factors than older patients.