Retinal Vein Occlusion

Retinal vein occlusion, a “stroke” in your eye, occurs when a vein becomes blocked, leading to retinal damage and vision loss. The experienced ophthalmologists at Retina Consultants of Austin, with offices in Austin, Lakeway, Marble Falls, and Round Rock, Texas, have extensive training and experience treating retinal vein occlusion. They’re also actively involved in the development of new medications for this condition. If you have blurry vision, don’t wait to get help from the practice. Call the nearest office or schedule an appointment online today.

What is a retinal vein occlusion?

Retinal vein occlusion occurs when a vein in your eye becomes blocked, usually due to blood clots or thickening and hardening of the vessel wall. 

You’re more likely to develop retinal vein occlusion if you have risk factors such as:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Obesity

Having open-angle glaucoma also increases your risk for retinal vein occlusion.

What are the symptoms of retinal vein occlusion? 

Retinal vein occlusion may affect both eyes but most often appears in one, causing the primary symptoms of blurry vision and painless vision loss. Vision loss usually occurs due to swelling in the macula (at the center of your retina).

This swelling, called macular edema, may first affect your vision by making objects appear wavy or making colors look faded and dull.

How is retinal vein occlusion treated?

Retinal vein occlusion is primarily treated with eye injections containing anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF), but your provider may recommend other treatments: 

Anti-VEGF injections

When the retinal veins are blocked, your eye grows new blood vessels. However, these new vessels are abnormal and too weak to function. Instead, they leak blood and fluids into your eye, causing retinal swelling and macular edema (a fluid buildup in the center of your retina).

Proteins called endothelial growth factors trigger the growth of abnormal blood vessels. An injection of anti-VEGF medication stops new blood vessel growth. As a result, the swelling goes down and your vision improves. 

Corticosteroid implants

If you have macular edema and it doesn’t improve with anti-VEGF injections, your provider may recommend a corticosteroid implant to reduce inflammation. 

Laser surgery

After abnormal blood vessels develop, laser surgery seals the vessels and stops the leaking.

When you’re diagnosed with retinal vein occlusion, your provider closely monitors your eye, scheduling more frequent exams than usual for a short time. This is the only way to catch complications that often occur in the early stages of the disease.

No matter what treatment is best for your retinal vein occlusion, you can depend on the skill and expertise of the providers at Retina Consultants of Austin.

To find out more about retinal vein occlusion, call Retina Consultants of Austin or schedule an appointment online today.