Retinal Vein Occlusions

What is retinal vein occlusion?

A retinal vein occlusion is an event in which a vein in your eye becomes blocked, preventing oxygen and nutrients from reaching the nerves in your retina. There are two main types of retinal vein occlusions: a branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), which affects smaller veins in the retina; and a central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), which affects the retina’s primary vein.

What are some common branch retinal vein occlusion causes?

Because BRVO occurs as a result of clotting in the veins, general risk factors for blood clotting also apply to BRVO. These common risk factors include:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Heart disease
• Being overweight
• Glaucoma
• A genetic predisposition toward blood clots
• Heart disease

What are the symptoms of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO)?

BRVO generally does not cause pain; the primary symptom is sudden vision loss that can occur anywhere in the eye. In fact, some patients do not realize they have BRVO because the affected area is not in the center of the eye. In these cases, floaters can also be a telltale sign of BRVO.

What is the best treatment for BRVO?

Most patients with BRVO have an excellent prognosis for recovery, and some who have experienced no vision loss may not require treatment at all. At Infinity Retina, we always recommend that our patients first address any underlying conditions or factors that could be contributing to BRVO. This includes:

• Monitoring your blood pressure and cholesterol
• Monitoring your lipid levels
• Undergoing blood tests to detect a predisposition toward blood clots

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections performed by Dr. Parvus can also help treat BRVO. In more difficult cases, Dr. Parvus may prescribe laser therapy along with VEGF medication, which involves a grid of light laser pulses being applied to the macula. 

Each patient is unique, and Dr. Parvus will work directly with you to determine the treatment plan that suits your needs best.

What is central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)?

As previously stated, central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) is a condition that affects the primary vein in your retina. When this vessel swells and closes off, nutrients and oxygen cannot travel to the retina, causing blurry vision and other symptoms in your eye. CRVO usually occurs only in one eye.

What causes CRVO?

While the exact cause of central retinal vein occlusion is unknown, researchers have identified high blood pressure and diabetes as strong risk factors for the condition. This is because CRVO develops from a blood clot, and these conditions seriously increase your risk of clotting.

What are the two types of CRVO?

The two types of central retinal vein occlusion we see at Infinity Retina are as follows:

• Non-ischemic CRVO, a less serious type which involves macular edema and leaky retinal vessels. These patients have less severe symptoms and a better prognosis in general.
• Ischemic CRVO, a more severe form that involves fully closed small retinal blood vessels. These patients will experience worse symptoms and recovering vision will be much more difficult.

Regardless of which type is affecting you, it’s important to detect central retinal vein occlusion symptoms like abnormal vessels and macular edema early to prevent severe vision loss before it begins.

What is the best treatment for patients with CRVO?

All cases of central retinal vein occlusion should be closely monitored by your ophthalmologist at Infinity Retina, but about ⅓ of patients with central retinal vein occlusion improve on their own. If your CRVO comes and goes or continues to worsen, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections performed periodically by Dr. Parvus can reduce swelling and improve symptoms.