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Retinal vein occlusion is a blockage of the small veins that carry blood away from the retina. The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye that converts light images to nerve signals and sends them to the brain. Retinal vein occlusion (Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO), Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO)) are vascular occlusions of either the branch or central retinal vein resulting in potential vision changes and long term sequelae.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF RVO?
Mild CRVO may show no symptoms. However:
- Many patients with CRVO have symptoms such as blurry or distorted vision due to swelling of the center part of the retina, known as the macula.
- Some patients have mild symptoms that wax and wane, called transient visual obscurations.
- Patients with severe CRVO and secondary complications such as glaucoma (a disease characterized by increased pressure in the eye) often have pain, redness, irritation and other problems.
HOW CAN IT BE DIAGNOSED?
- CRVO is typically a clinical diagnosis—that is, one based on medical signs and patientreported symptoms. When a retina specialist looks into the eye, there is a characteristic pattern of retinal hemorrhages (bleeding) and a diagnosis is made.
- Fluorescein angiography may be used to determine the degree of retinal ischemia and diagnose macular edema. This may be important for prognostic reasons and to predict the development of neovascular sequelae.
- Optical coherence tomography may be used to diagnose macular edema and gauge response to treatment.
TREATMENT FOR RVO
You may need treatment to prevent another blockage from forming in the same or the other eye.
- It’s important to manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels.
- Some people may need to take aspirin or other blood thinners.
Treatment for the complications of retinal vein occlusion may include: - Focal laser treatment, if macular edema is present.
- Injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs into the eye. These drugs may block the growth of new blood vessels that can cause glaucoma.
- Laser treatment to prevent the growth of new, abnormal blood vessels that leads to glaucoma.
