Retinal Vascular Occlusion Treatment

Retinal vein occlusion is an eye condition normally seen in most eye care office. It is second only to diabetic retinopathy as a cause of visual loss due to retinal vascular disease.

Retinal vein occlusions expand from difficulty of the venous outflow from the eye. The blockage may vary in size and location, accounting for a thick range of retinal outcomes. A number of of the complications of retinal vein occlusion may be properly managed with laser treatment. It is hoped that through additional research, even better strategies for prevention and management will be developed.

Central retinal vein occlusion is easily diagnosed upon examination. On the other hand, in the first 3-6 months following central vein occlusion, significant intraretinal hemorrhages can make it difficult to predict the course and visual outcome. Generally, the better the vision is at the time of diagnosis, the better the prognosis. Once intraretinal hemorrhaging clears, a fluorescein angiogram is generally performed to determine whether the central retinal vein occlusion is ischemic or non-ischemic. Laser treatment is not effective for macular edema from central retinal vein occlusion. If abnormal new vessels develop, laser treatment is usually performed. For persistent vitreous hemorrhages, retinal detachment, or macular pucker formation, surgery may be necessary.

Retinal Vascular Occlusion Treatment may be necessary in patients with blood clotting abnormalities.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections in the eye are currently the treatment option for macular edema due to retinal vein occlusions.