What is retinal vein occlusion?

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a partial or total blockage in a vein that drains blood from your retina. Your retina is a layer of tissue at the back of your eye that helps translate light into images you can see. A blockage in a retinal vein prevents blood from leaving your retina. This can lead to complications, including raised pressure in your eye and swelling. These issues need prompt treatment to prevent or minimize vision loss.

There’s no current safe way to unblock the vein. However, treatment can manage complications and protect your vision.

Eye care specialists tailor treatment to your individual needs. You may need multiple treatments ranging from injections to surgery to manage your condition.

Types of retinal vein occlusion

There are two types of RVO:

• Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), or blockage of the main retinal vein.
• Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), or blockage of one of the smaller branch veins. This type is more common.