Overview

Retinal vein occlusion occurs when the circulation of a retinal vein becomes obstructed by an adjacent blood vessel, causing hemorrhages in the retina.  Swelling and ischemia (lack of oxygen) of the retina as well as glaucoma are fairly common complications.

The visual symptoms can vary in severity from one person to the next, and are dependent on whether the central retinal vein or a branch retinal vein is involved. Patients who experience a branch vein occlusion often notice a gradual improvement in their vision as the hemorrhage resolves. Recovery from a central vein occlusion is much less likely since it affects the macula. This problem appears equally in males and females and is more common after the age of 60.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of retinal vein occlusion include sudden onset of blurred or missing area of vision, severe loss of central vision.

Detection and Diagnosis

Vein occlusion is diagnosed by examining the retina with an ophthalmoscope. Fluorescein angiography may be performed in some cases to study the circulation of the retina and to determine the extent of macular edema or swelling.

Treatment

Following a vein occlusion, the primary concern is to treat the secondary complications such as swelling of the reina. If areas of the retina are swollen, LASER may be used to prevent growth of delicate vessels that could break, bleed or cause glaucoma.

The following are common risk factors for vein occlusion: diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease.