Information provided by the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The Eye M.D. Association

RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION

How is a Retinal Vein Occlusion Detected?

Your eye doctor will use eye drops to dilate, or enlarge your pupils. Dilating the pupils allows your eye doctor to view the back of the eye better. You may need testing, including a fluorescein angiography. Fluorescein angiography is a test that uses a diagnostic agent called fluorescein that is injected into a vein in your arm. It is used to enhance the specialized photograph that is taken to evaluate the retina.

What are the Treatment Options?

There is no known cure for retina vein occlusion. However, there are several treatments for the condition.

• Intravitreal injections of protein inhibiting drugs, called Anti-VEGF’s, are also administered by the physician directly into the eye during an office visit. These drugs work to decrease the macular edema (macular swelling) associated with the blockage of blood flow into the retina.
• Ozurdex, recently approved by the FDA, is administered into the eye via injection by the physician. The implant delivers an extended dose of a steroid to the retina. In clinical studies, patients achieved an average of a three-line improvement in their vision when reading from an eye chart compared to those patients who received a placebo.
• Laser Treatment may help improve sight in some patients but success is limited. Laser treatment is a high energy beam of light used to seal leaking blood vessels in the hope of reducing swelling in the macula. Laser treatment is performed on an outpatient basis in Retina Consultants’ offices.