This condition involves a blockage of blood to the retina or away from the retina. The severity of the damage to retinal tissues and thus to the vision is dependent on the severity of the occlusion. A blockage within the eye that only affects a portion of the eye is a Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion or Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion. The amount of damage is also determined by the severity of the blockage. Damage can range from slight visual disturbance to blindness.
How do you treat Retinal Vein Occlusion?
Treatment is not for the vein occlusion, but for the resulting effects. A vein occlusion may cause leakage from vessels that have increased pressure resulting from the backup of blood flow. The leakage may lead to macular edema, which is the swelling of the retina tissue in the center of the eye known as the macula. The treatment for a macular edema may involve laser treatment to the area of swelling or injection of intraocular medication.
No treatment is available for an artery occlusion. Evaluation of the eye is necessary to ensure that the lack of blood flow to the eye does not lead to a condition called proliferative retinopathy. The proliferation refers to the occurrence of new vessels in the eye that are pathologic. They can lead to bleeding in the eye or to painful increase in the pressure of the eye. If evidence of this condition is present laser treatment is used to cause regression of the new blood vessel formation.
