Summary about Disease
Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO) is a blockage of a vein that carries blood away from the retina. This blockage can lead to bleeding and fluid leakage in the retina, potentially causing vision loss. There are two main types: Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO), affecting a smaller vein branch, and Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO), affecting the main central retinal vein. The severity and impact on vision vary depending on the location and extent of the occlusion.
Symptoms
Symptoms of RVO can include:
Sudden or gradual blurred vision
Vision loss (partial or complete)
Distorted vision
Floaters (dark spots or lines in your vision)
Eye pain (less common)
Causes
The primary cause of RVO is a blood clot or narrowing that obstructs the retinal vein. Risk factors include:
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Glaucoma
Diabetes
Age (more common in older adults)
Cardiovascular disease
Blood disorders that increase the risk of clotting
Inflammatory conditions
Medicine Used
4. Medicine used Treatment for RVO often involves medications to reduce swelling (macular edema) and prevent the growth of new blood vessels (neovascularization). Common medications include:
Anti-VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) injections: These drugs, such as ranibizumab (Lucentis), aflibercept (Eylea), and bevacizumab (Avastin), are injected directly into the eye to block VEGF, a protein that promotes blood vessel growth and leakage.
Corticosteroids: These can be injected into the eye (e.g., triamcinolone acetonide) or given as an implant (e.g., dexamethasone intravitreal implant - Ozurdex) to reduce inflammation and swelling.
Aspirin: Low-dose aspirin is used to reduce overall risk of clots, but not as a direct treatment.
Is Communicable
Retinal Vein Occlusion is not communicable. It is not contagious and cannot be spread from person to person.
Precautions
While RVO itself is not preventable in all cases, managing risk factors can help reduce the likelihood of developing the condition or slow its progression. Precautions include:
Controlling blood pressure: Regularly monitor and manage hypertension.
Managing diabetes: Keep blood sugar levels under control.
Regular eye exams: Especially important for individuals with risk factors.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle: Including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking.
Adhering to prescribed medications: Taking medications as prescribed by your doctor for underlying conditions.
How long does an outbreak last?
RVO is not an "outbreak" that resolves on its own. It's a blockage that requires treatment and ongoing management. The effects of the occlusion can be long-lasting, and treatment may be needed for months or even years to control complications like macular edema and neovascularization.
How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis of RVO typically involves a comprehensive eye exam, which may include:
Visual acuity test: To measure how well you can see.
Dilated eye exam: To examine the retina and blood vessels.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): To assess the thickness of the retina and detect fluid accumulation (macular edema).
Fluorescein Angiography (FA): A dye is injected into the bloodstream, and photographs are taken as the dye travels through the retinal vessels to identify blockages, leakage, and neovascularization.
Blood pressure measurement:
Timeline of Symptoms
9. Timeline of symptoms The onset of symptoms can vary:
Sudden onset: Some individuals experience a sudden and noticeable change in vision.
Gradual onset: Others may notice a gradual decline in vision over days or weeks. The long-term timeline depends on the severity of the occlusion and the effectiveness of treatment. Without treatment, vision loss can be permanent. With treatment, vision can be stabilized or even improved, but ongoing monitoring is essential.
Important Considerations
Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial to minimize vision loss.
RVO can lead to serious complications such as macular edema, neovascular glaucoma (growth of new blood vessels that block fluid drainage), and vitreous hemorrhage (bleeding into the vitreous gel).
Treatment aims to control complications and prevent further vision loss, but it may not fully restore vision.
Long-term follow-up is necessary to monitor for recurrence or new complications.
Underlying conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and glaucoma must be managed to prevent future events and preserve overall health.
Patients should discuss lifestyle adjustments with their doctor to support overall health.