July 16, 2012 1. Central retinal vein occlusion
2. Central retinal vein branch occlusion
Retinal vein occlusion can involve the central retinal vein, or just one of its branches. The appearance of it is related to hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, hematologic disorders (polycythemia, leukemia). Obstruction of flow can be either complete or partial. The consequence of it is the stagnation of blood flow and increased pressure in the retinal vessels. The increase in pressure causes bleeding and swelling of the retina (the whole retina or part of it, depending on whether the central vein or its branches are affected) and the optical disk. Retinal ischemia after a few weeks causes a development of fragile new blood vessels in the retina, and sometimes even in the iris with subsequent neovascular glaucoma (as in diabetic retinopathy).
Symptoms:
Symptom of retinal vein occlusion is a painless, sudden complete or partial vision loss (depending on the location and size of the obstruction).
Treatment:
No therapy with e.g. anticoagulants or fibrinolytics will not improve eyesight. At the occurrence of neovascularization, laser photocoagulation is performed.