Occlusion (blockage) of a retinal vein is a common cause of sudden painless reduction in vision in older people. The retina is the thin membrane that lines the inner surface of the back of your eye. Its function is similar to that of the film in a camera. Blockage of one of the veins draining blood out of the eye causes blood and other fluids to leak into the retina, causing bruising and swelling as well as lack of oxygen. This interferes with the light receptor cells and reduces vision. The condition is uncommon under the age of 60 but becomes more frequent in later life.
There are two types of retinal vein occlusion:
In general, visual loss is more severe if the central retinal vein is blocked.
Blurred vision without pain.
A blockage forms in the vein, usually due to a blood clot, and obstructs the blood flow. The exact cause is unknown, but several conditions make the condition more likely. These include:
It is essential to identify and treat any risk factors such as the ones above, to minimise the risk to the other eye and prevent a further vein occlusion in the affected eye. Treatment of any risk factors dramatically reduces the risk of a further vein occlusion occurring in either eye. Without treatment, there is a high risk of retinal vein occlusion returning. This can cause further damage to the sight of the affected eye as well as damage to the sight of the other eye. In a small number of cases, no risk factors can be found, with the cause being unknown.
Find out more about the treatment for retinal vein occlusion
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