A comparative study of retinal vein occlusion and serum 25 hydroxy Vitamin D at a tertiary care centre.

Background: Prevalence of retinal vascular occlusion is second to diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Various age-related local and systemic factors have been associated with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Hemodynamic changes (venous stasis), degenerative changes of the vessel wall and blood hypercoagulability underlies the pathogenesis. The role of Vitamin D in modulating the inflammatory responses within the arterial wall, the capacity to attenuate the oxidative stress and direct effect of hypovitaminosis D on increased vascular resistance hints at a potential association of Vitamin D levels with disorders of retinal vasculature.

Aim: To estimate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 OH Vit D) level in patients of RVO and compare it with matched controls.

Materials and methods: Fifty patients of RVO as cases and 50 without RVO as controls underwent systemic and ocular examination including the estimation of serum 25 OH Vit D and other biochemical parameters.

Statistical analysis: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 25 was used for the analysis. An alpha level of 5% was taken, that is P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Mean serum 25 OH Vit D level in cases of RVO was 21.82 nanogram/deciliters (ng/dL) compared to 30.71 ng/dL in the control group which was significantly lower in cases compared to control (P < 0.001). The odds ratio calculated for RVO cases versus controls was 1.137; 95% confidence interval (1.074-1.203).

Conclusion: A positive association of low serum 25 OH Vit D levels and RVO was found highlighting the importance of evaluating serum Vitamin D levels in all the cases of RVO. This correlation may have possible implications for prophylaxis and treatment of RVO, even though this part of our country gets abundant sunlight throughout the year.