【Causes・Disease】

Retinal vein occlusion is a disease in which blood does not flow to the retina when the veins of the retina become clogged due to blood clots.
The condition causes fundus hemorrhage, macular edema, reduced vision, visual field defects, and in severe cases, there is also a risk of blindness.
The symptoms of retinal vein occlusion vary greatly depending on where the vein occlusion occurred.
There are two types of retinal vein occlusion.
① Central retinal vein occlusion
・Type in which the root of the vein is blocked at the nipple part
・Causes more extensive retinal damage, often seriously affecting vision
② Branch retinal vein occlusion
・A type in which branches of veins are blocked
・Because the affected area is limited, symptoms and vision loss are often relatively mild.
Just like a stroke, most retinal vein occlusions are caused by hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure. Diabetes and others are also one of the reasons for increasing the risk. Therefore, retinal vein occlusion mostly occurs in middle-aged elderly people and people over 50 years old. While treating eye diseases, the treatment of basic diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia and arteriosclerosis is also very important.

【Symptoms】

Rapid visual field abnormalities, metamorphosis, and visual impairment occur. It may be asymptomatic and become a trace without realizing it, and vitreous hemorrhage occurs from the new blood vessels that develop there, then it may be recognized for the first time. Visual field abnormalities typically appear in the upper or lower half (oblique) visual field, which is dark and difficult to see. It features that the other half of the visual field can be seen almost without any problems.

【Treatment】

Treatment varies depending on the degree of symptoms, but if vision loss is caused by macular swelling, treatment is often done with a VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) inhibitor. If the patients have good vision, they can also observe the symptoms. In addition, adrenocortical hormones (steroids) may be injected into the eye to reduce inflammation and swelling of the retina.
Laser treatment (retinal photocoagulation) may be performed to prevent vitreous hemorrhage or tractive retinal detachment when macular swelling is difficult to subside or when the lesion is extensive. In addition, if vitreous hemorrhage or retinal detachment occurs, vitreous surgery may be performed. If patients have underlying diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, they may need medicine therapy to manage them.

【Summary】

Retinal vein occlusion is often caused by factors such as aging and lifestyle-related diseases. It is important to improve lifestyle habits such as a healthy diet, moderate exercise, and quitting smoking, as well as regular checkups to detect risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes. If you notice any abnormalities in your vision, it is important to see an ophthalmologist promptly, as early detection and proper treatment are essential to maintaining your vision.