Retinal Vein
Occlusion
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
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. If areas
of the retina are oxygen-deprived, 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
St. Luke's Cataract & Laser Institute provides this on-line
information for educational and communication purposes only and it
should not be construed as personal medical advice.
Information published on this St. Luke's website is not intended to
replace, supplant, or augment a consultation with an eye care
professional regarding the viewer/user's own medical care. St.
Luke's disclaims any and all liability for injury or other damages
that could result from use of the information obtained from this
site. |
