Precipitation of hard exudate after reorption of intraretinal edema after treatment of retinal branch vein occluion

PURPOE: To preent evidence that precipitation of hard exudate in the retina can occur after reduction of macular edema by ucceful photocoagulation treatment for retinal branch vein occluion. METHOD: A 59-year-old woman received argon laer retinal photocoagulation treatment for retinal branch vein occluion over the primarily involved engorged area of the retina. Fundu change were documented by fundu photography and optical coherence tomography. REULT: Before treatment, an extenive intraretinal edema with cavity formation and a mall erou foveal detachment extended outide the engorged area of the retina. Three month after treatment, all retinal thickening had diappeared, but a markedly increaed amount of intraretinal hard exudate wa een adjacent to the treated area. CONCLUION: Precipitation of hard exudate can occur after reduction of macular edema by ucceful retinal photocoagulation treatment, preumably becaue water and highly oluble electrolyte are reorbed fater than lipid. Thi phenomenon hould be ditinguihed from accumulation of hard exudate reulting from dieae progreion.