Learn About Retinal Vein Occlusion

What is the definition of Retinal Vein Occlusion?

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.

What are the alternative names for Retinal Vein Occlusion?

Central retinal vein occlusion; CRVO; Branch retinal vein occlusion; BRVO; Vision loss - retinal vein occlusion; Blurry vision - retinal vein occlusion

What are the causes of Retinal Vein Occlusion?

Retinal vein occlusion is most often caused by hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and the formation of a blood clot.

Blockage of smaller veins (branch veins or BRVO) in the retina often occurs in places where retinal arteries that have been thickened or hardened by atherosclerosis cross over and place pressure on a retinal vein.

Risk factors for retinal vein occlusion include:

  • Atherosclerosis
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Other eye conditions, such as glaucoma, macular edema, or vitreous hemorrhage

The risk of these disorders increases with age, therefore retinal vein occlusion most often affects older people.

Blockage of retinal veins may cause other eye problems, including:

  • Glaucoma (high pressure in the eye), caused by new, abnormal blood vessels growing in the front part of the eye
  • Macular edema, caused by the leakage of fluid in the retina
What are the symptoms of Retinal Vein Occlusion?

Symptoms include sudden blurring or vision loss in all or part of one eye.

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What are the current treatments for Retinal Vein Occlusion?

Many people will regain vision, even without treatment. However, vision rarely returns to normal. There is no way to reverse or open the blockage.

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.
Who are the top Retinal Vein Occlusion Local Doctors?
101 Plain St Ste 101, 
Providence, RI 
 0.5 mi

Harold Woodcome is an Ophthalmologist in Providence, Rhode Island. Dr. Woodcome and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Retinal Vein Occlusion. His top areas of expertise are Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Vein Occlusion, Retinal Artery Occlusion, and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD).

Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology

Lifespan Physician Group Inc

1 Hoppin St, Suite 202, 
Providence, RI 
 0.7 mi

Richard Bryan is an Ophthalmologist in Providence, Rhode Island. Dr. Bryan and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Retinal Vein Occlusion. His top areas of expertise are Retinal Detachment, Diabetic Retinopathy, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), and Retinal Vein Occlusion.

 
 
 
 
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Lifespan Physician Group Inc

1 Hoppin St, Suite 202, 
Providence, RI 
 0.7 mi

Robert Janigian is an Ophthalmologist in Providence, Rhode Island. Dr. Janigian and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Retinal Vein Occlusion. His top areas of expertise are Uveitis, Neuroretinitis, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), and Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Retinal Vein Occlusion?

The outcome varies. People with retinal vein occlusion often regain useful vision.

It is important to properly manage conditions such as macular edema and glaucoma. However, having either of these complications is more likely to lead to a poor outcome.

What are the possible complications of Retinal Vein Occlusion?

Complications may include:

  • Glaucoma
  • Partial or complete vision loss in the affected eye
When should I contact a medical professional for Retinal Vein Occlusion?

Contact your provider if you have sudden blurring or vision loss.

How do I prevent Retinal Vein Occlusion?

Retinal vein occlusion is a sign of a general blood vessel (vascular) disease. Measures used to prevent other blood vessel diseases may decrease the risk for retinal vein occlusion.

These measures include:

  • Eating a low-fat diet
  • Getting regular exercise
  • Maintaining an ideal weight
  • Not smoking

Aspirin or other blood thinners may help prevent blockages in the other eye.

Controlling diabetes may help prevent retinal vein occlusion.

What are the latest Retinal Vein Occlusion Clinical Trials?
Real-World, Long-Term Data Collection to Gain Clinical Insights Into Roche Ophthalmology Products (VOYAGER STUDY)

Summary: The VOYAGER study is a primary data collection, non-interventional, prospective, multinational, multicenter study. It is designed to collect real-world, long-term data to explore long-term effectiveness, safety, clinical insights, treatment patterns, and factors driving the treatment decisions among patients being treated with specified Roche ophthalmology products in approved retinal indications ...

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China Faricimab Real World Evidence: Evaluation of Faricimab Effectiveness, Safety and Treatment Pattern, in Diabetic Macular Edema, Retinal Vein Occlusion and Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Farseeing Study

Summary: The Farseeing Study will explore long-term effectiveness, safety, and treatment patterns among patients being treated with faricimab in real-world, routine clinical practice in China. It is a primary data collection, non-interventional, prospective and retrospective, multi-center study designed to collect real-world, long-term data to gain clinical evidence on faricimab, by observing cohorts of pa...

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: January 29, 2024
Published By: Audrey Tai, DO, MS, Athena Eye Care, Mission Viejo, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

Arepalli S, Bessette A, Kaiser PK. Branch retinal vein occlusion. In: Sadda SR, Sarraf D, Freund KB et al, eds. Ryan's Retina. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 55.

Flaxel CJ, Adelman RA, Bailey ST, et al. Retinal vein occlusions preferred practice pattern. Ophthalmology. 2020;127(2):P288-P320. PMID: 31757503 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31757503/.

Freund KB, Sarraf D, Mieler WF, Yanuzzi LA. Retinal vascular disease. In: Freund KB, Sarraf D, Mieler WF, Yannuzzi LA, eds. The Retinal Atlas. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 6.

Guluma K, Lee JE. Ophthalmology. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 57.

Jeng-Miller KW, Desai SJ, Chen X, Heier JS. Venous occlusive disease of the retina. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 6.16.