BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuRetinal vein occlusionCentral retinal vein occlusion; CRVO; Branch retinal vein occlusion; BRVO; Vision loss - retinal vein occlusion; Blurry vision - retinal vein occlusionRetinal vein occlusion is a blockage of the small veins that carry blood away from the retina. The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye that converts light images to nerve signals and sends them to the brain. Causes Retinal vein occlusion is most often caused by hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and the formation of a blood clot.AtherosclerosisAtherosclerosis, sometimes called "hardening of the arteries," occurs when fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up in the walls of arteries. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blockage of smaller veins (branch veins or BRVO) in the retina often occurs in places where retinal arteries that have been thickened or hardened by atherosclerosis cross over and place pressure on a retinal vein.Risk factors for retinal vein occlusion include:Atherosclerosis Diabetes DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article High blood pressure (hypertension) High blood pressureBlood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other eye conditions, such as glaucoma, macular edema, or vitreous hemorrhage GlaucomaGlaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. This nerve sends the images you see to your brain. Most often, optic nerve da...Read Article Now Book Mark Article The risk of these disorders increases with age, therefore retinal vein occlusion most often affects older people.Blockage of retinal veins may cause other eye problems, including:Glaucoma (high pressure in the eye), caused by new, abnormal blood vessels growing in the front part of the eye Macular edema, caused by the leakage of fluid in the retina Symptoms Symptoms include sudden blurring or vision loss in all or part of one eye. Exams and Tests Tests to evaluate for retinal vein occlusion include:Exam of the retina after dilating the pupil Fluorescein angiography Fluorescein angiographyFluorescein angiography is an eye test that uses a special dye and camera to look at blood flow in the retina and choroid. These are the two layers ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Intraocular pressure Intraocular pressureTonometry is a test to measure the pressure inside your eyes. The test is used to screen for glaucoma. It is also used to measure how well glaucoma...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pupil reflex response Refraction eye exam Refraction eye examA refraction is an eye exam that measures a person's prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Retinal photography Slit lamp examination Testing of side vision (visual field examination) Visual acuity test to determine the smallest letters you can read on a chartVisual acuityThe visual acuity test is used to determine the smallest letters you can read on a standardized chart (Snellen chart) or a card held 20 feet (6 meter...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other tests may include:Blood tests for diabetes, high cholesterol, and triglyceride levels TriglycerideThe triglyceride level is a blood test to measure the amount of triglycerides in your blood. Triglycerides are a type of fat. Your body makes some t...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood tests to look for a clotting or blood thickening (hyperviscosity) problem (in people under age 40 years) The health care provider will closely monitor any blockage for several months. Some harmful effects, such as glaucoma, may take 3 or more months to develop after the occlusion. Treatment Many people will regain vision, even without treatment. However, vision rarely returns to normal. There is no way to reverse or open the blockage.You may need treatment to prevent another blockage from forming in the same or the other eye.It's important to manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. Some people may need to take aspirin or other blood thinners.Treatment for the complications of retinal vein occlusion may include:Focal laser treatment, if macular edema is present. Injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs into the eye. These drugs may block the growth of new blood vessels that can cause glaucoma. Laser treatment to prevent the growth of new, abnormal blood vessels that leads to glaucoma. Outlook (Prognosis) The outcome varies. People with retinal vein occlusion often regain useful vision.It is important to properly manage conditions such as macular edema and glaucoma. However, having either of these complications is more likely to lead to a poor outcome. Possible Complications Complications may include:Glaucoma Partial or complete vision loss in the affected eye When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have sudden blurring or vision loss. Prevention Retinal vein occlusion is a sign of a general blood vessel (vascular) disease. Measures used to prevent other blood vessel diseases may decrease the risk for retinal vein occlusion.These measures include:Eating a low-fat diet Getting regular exercise Maintaining an ideal weight Not smoking Aspirin or other blood thinners may help prevent blockages in the other eye.Controlling diabetes may help prevent retinal vein occlusion.Open ReferencesReferencesArepalli S, Bessette A, Kaiser PK. Branch retinal vein occlusion. In: Sadda SR, Sarraf D, Freund KB et al, eds. Ryan's Retina. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 55.Flaxel CJ, Adelman RA, Bailey ST, et al. Retinal vein occlusions preferred practice pattern. Ophthalmology. 2020;127(2):P288-P320. PMID: 31757503 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31757503/.Freund KB, Sarraf D, Mieler WF, Yanuzzi LA. Retinal vascular disease. In: Freund KB, Sarraf D, Mieler WF, Yannuzzi LA, eds. The Retinal Atlas. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 6.Guluma K, Lee JE. Ophthalmology. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 57.Jeng-Miller KW, Desai SJ, Chen X, Heier JS. Venous occlusive disease of the retina. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 6.16.AllVideoImagesTog Tests for Retinal vein occlusion Fluorescein angiographySlit-lamp examRelated Information Review Date: 1/29/2024 Reviewed By: Audrey Tai, DO, MS, Athena Eye Care, Mission Viejo, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. 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Retinal vein occlusionCentral retinal vein occlusion; CRVO; Branch retinal vein occlusion; BRVO; Vision loss - retinal vein occlusion; Blurry vision - retinal vein occlusionRetinal vein occlusion is a blockage of the small veins that carry blood away from the retina. The retina is the layer of tissue at the back of the inner eye that converts light images to nerve signals and sends them to the brain. Causes Retinal vein occlusion is most often caused by hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and the formation of a blood clot.AtherosclerosisAtherosclerosis, sometimes called "hardening of the arteries," occurs when fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up in the walls of arteries. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blockage of smaller veins (branch veins or BRVO) in the retina often occurs in places where retinal arteries that have been thickened or hardened by atherosclerosis cross over and place pressure on a retinal vein.Risk factors for retinal vein occlusion include:Atherosclerosis Diabetes DiabetesDiabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.Read Article Now Book Mark Article High blood pressure (hypertension) High blood pressureBlood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other eye conditions, such as glaucoma, macular edema, or vitreous hemorrhage GlaucomaGlaucoma is a group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. This nerve sends the images you see to your brain. Most often, optic nerve da...Read Article Now Book Mark Article The risk of these disorders increases with age, therefore retinal vein occlusion most often affects older people.Blockage of retinal veins may cause other eye problems, including:Glaucoma (high pressure in the eye), caused by new, abnormal blood vessels growing in the front part of the eye Macular edema, caused by the leakage of fluid in the retina Symptoms Symptoms include sudden blurring or vision loss in all or part of one eye. Exams and Tests Tests to evaluate for retinal vein occlusion include:Exam of the retina after dilating the pupil Fluorescein angiography Fluorescein angiographyFluorescein angiography is an eye test that uses a special dye and camera to look at blood flow in the retina and choroid. These are the two layers ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Intraocular pressure Intraocular pressureTonometry is a test to measure the pressure inside your eyes. The test is used to screen for glaucoma. It is also used to measure how well glaucoma...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pupil reflex response Refraction eye exam Refraction eye examA refraction is an eye exam that measures a person's prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Retinal photography Slit lamp examination Testing of side vision (visual field examination) Visual acuity test to determine the smallest letters you can read on a chartVisual acuityThe visual acuity test is used to determine the smallest letters you can read on a standardized chart (Snellen chart) or a card held 20 feet (6 meter...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other tests may include:Blood tests for diabetes, high cholesterol, and triglyceride levels TriglycerideThe triglyceride level is a blood test to measure the amount of triglycerides in your blood. Triglycerides are a type of fat. Your body makes some t...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood tests to look for a clotting or blood thickening (hyperviscosity) problem (in people under age 40 years) The health care provider will closely monitor any blockage for several months. Some harmful effects, such as glaucoma, may take 3 or more months to develop after the occlusion. Treatment Many people will regain vision, even without treatment. However, vision rarely returns to normal. There is no way to reverse or open the blockage.You may need treatment to prevent another blockage from forming in the same or the other eye.It's important to manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. Some people may need to take aspirin or other blood thinners.Treatment for the complications of retinal vein occlusion may include:Focal laser treatment, if macular edema is present. Injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs into the eye. These drugs may block the growth of new blood vessels that can cause glaucoma. Laser treatment to prevent the growth of new, abnormal blood vessels that leads to glaucoma. Outlook (Prognosis) The outcome varies. People with retinal vein occlusion often regain useful vision.It is important to properly manage conditions such as macular edema and glaucoma. However, having either of these complications is more likely to lead to a poor outcome. Possible Complications Complications may include:Glaucoma Partial or complete vision loss in the affected eye When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have sudden blurring or vision loss. Prevention Retinal vein occlusion is a sign of a general blood vessel (vascular) disease. Measures used to prevent other blood vessel diseases may decrease the risk for retinal vein occlusion.These measures include:Eating a low-fat diet Getting regular exercise Maintaining an ideal weight Not smoking Aspirin or other blood thinners may help prevent blockages in the other eye.Controlling diabetes may help prevent retinal vein occlusion.Open ReferencesReferencesArepalli S, Bessette A, Kaiser PK. Branch retinal vein occlusion. In: Sadda SR, Sarraf D, Freund KB et al, eds. Ryan's Retina. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 55.Flaxel CJ, Adelman RA, Bailey ST, et al. Retinal vein occlusions preferred practice pattern. Ophthalmology. 2020;127(2):P288-P320. PMID: 31757503 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31757503/.Freund KB, Sarraf D, Mieler WF, Yanuzzi LA. Retinal vascular disease. In: Freund KB, Sarraf D, Mieler WF, Yannuzzi LA, eds. The Retinal Atlas. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 6.Guluma K, Lee JE. Ophthalmology. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 57.Jeng-Miller KW, Desai SJ, Chen X, Heier JS. Venous occlusive disease of the retina. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 6.16.