Retinal Vein Occlusion: The Eye Stroke You Should Know About

Retinal vein occlusion is the second most common retinal vascular disorder after diabetic retinopathy. It occurs when a vein draining blood from the retina becomes blocked, causing pressure to back up, vessels to leak, and the retina to swell and hemorrhage.

Two Main Types

• Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO): A smaller tributary vein is blocked, usually where an artery crosses and compresses it. Vision loss corresponds to the affected sector.
• Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO): The main vein at the optic nerve is blocked, affecting the entire retina and typically causing more severe vision loss.

Symptoms

Vision loss is sudden and painless, often noticed on waking. It may be a blur, a missing sector, or a dramatic drop in central acuity. Some patients notice floaters from bleeding into the vitreous.

Any sudden painless vision change is an emergency. Call us the same day.

Who Is at Risk

• High blood pressure — the single most common association
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Glaucoma or elevated eye pressure
• Smoking
• Age over 50
• Clotting disorders, especially in younger patients

How We Treat It

The blockage itself cannot be reopened, but its consequences are highly treatable:

• Anti-VEGF injections are first-line for macular edema and often restore substantial vision
• Steroid implants help selected patients, particularly when inflammation is prominent
• Panretinal laser is used if abnormal new vessels develop, preventing bleeding and neovascular glaucoma
• Serial OCT imaging guides how often treatment is needed

Outcomes are best when treatment starts early, before chronic swelling scars the macula.

The Part Beyond Your Eye

A vein occlusion is often the first visible sign of systemic vascular disease. We coordinate with your primary care physician for blood pressure, glucose, and lipid evaluation, and in younger patients or those with occlusions in both eyes, additional testing for clotting disorders. Treating the underlying condition protects your other eye — and your heart and brain.

Follow-Up

Expect frequent visits early on, with intervals extended as the retina dries. Complications such as neovascular glaucoma can develop months later, so continued monitoring matters even after vision improves.

For urgent evaluation of sudden vision loss, call (954) 633-8202.