What Is Retinal Vein Occlusion?
Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO) is the second most common retinal vascular disorder after diabetic retinopathy. Though it can affect both eyes, it usually presents with acute, unilateral, painless vision loss. In milder, non-central cases, patients may be asymptomatic. Vision loss typically occurs from compromised blood flow and swelling in the macula, the central portion of the retina responsible for critical visual tasks such as reading and recognizing faces. Left untreated, RVO can lead to glaucoma and severe visual impairment.
RVO can be classified as central, hemi-retinal, or branch based on the level of venous blockage.
Systemic risk factors for Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO) include age, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. In other cases, patients with a predisposition for clotting or vasculitis may develop RVO. Patients with RVO should optimize cardiovascular risk factors.
The standard of care for most patients with RVO with macular swelling is with injections of medication into the eye to help suppress the vascular drive and reduce macular swelling, improving vision in the majority.
The physicians of Retina Consultants of Austin are constantly evaluating new therapeutics for the treatment of RVO. Please ask any of our doctors or staff to see if a clinical trial is right for you.