What Is Retinal Vein Occlusion?

A retinal vein occlusion is sometimes referred to as an "eye stroke" because it's a blockage of blood flow from your retina back to your heart.

This eye disease results in sudden blurred vision or a loss of vision.

Retinal vein occlusion can't be cured. Treatment aims to manage other conditions that occur from having this disease.

A retinal vein occlusion is sometimes referred to as an "eye stroke." It's the blockage of one of the veins returning blood from your retina back to your heart. Your retina converts light and images into nerve signals and sends them to your brain via the optic nerve. Blockages from blood clots or fluid buildup in your retinal veins impairs your retina's ability to filter light and your ability to see. The severity of vision loss depends on which vein is blocked.

What Are the Types of Retinal Vein Occlusion?

There are two types of retinal veins. There's one central vein and many smaller branch veins. Likewise, there are two types of retinal vein occlusion. There's central retinal vein occlusion and branch retinal vein occlusion.

Symptoms of Retinal Vein Occlusion

The primary symptom of retinal vein occlusion is a blurring or loss of vision that's usually sudden in onset and generally in only one eye. If it isn't treated, the blurring or loss of vision usually gets worse in hours or days. Sometimes, you'll see dark spots or floaters, which are tiny clumps of cells or material floating in your eye. In severe cases, a blocked vein will build up pressure and cause pain in your eye.

It's important to see your doctor right away if you have these symptoms because a retinal vein occlusion can lead to other health problems.

What Causes Retinal Vein Occlusion?

Retinal vein occlusions usually occur because your arteries harden and cause a clot, much like a stroke. Blockages are more common in people with narrowed or damaged blood vessels, or those with chronic conditions that cause them. Such diseases include:

• atherosclerosis, which is a hardening of the arteries
• glaucoma, which is optic nerve damage that's usually caused by increased pressure
• macular edema, which is fluid leakage into the macula, or the area of the retina that allows for sharp focus
• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• blood disorders that affect clotting
• people over the age of 60
• people who smoke

Preventing Retinal Vein Occlusion

Because this disease occurs in veins, you can reduce your risk of it by protecting your blood vessels and maintaining healthy vascular tissue. Healthy lifestyle and dietary changes include:

• exercising
• losing weight if you're overweight
• maintaining a healthy weight
• quitting smoking if you smoke
• controlling diabetes if you have diabetes
• reducing your blood pressure if you have high blood pressure
• reducing your cholesterol if you have high cholesterol
• taking aspirin or other blood thinners if recommended by your doctor