Living with retinal vein occlusion (RVO)
Meet Donna, who explains her experience with RVO treatments and anti-VEGF injections for RVO
Symptoms may include:1, 2
- Blurred vision
- Sudden loss of vision
- Blind spot in vision
- Pain or pressure in the eye
- Distorted vision
- Increased floaters
Patients with RVO most commonly have painless vision loss, distorted vision, or floaters. Although the majority of RVO occurs in one eye, 5%-6% of branch retinal vein occlusions (BRVO) and 10% of central retinal vein occlusions (CRVO) affect both eyes. 3, 4 Some patients with RVO will need treatment while others will only need to be monitored.6 Your eye doctor will closely monitor you for macular edema (fluid buildup and swelling of the center part of the retina) and glaucoma (increased eye pressure from fluid buildup).7, 9 As part of the team approach to maintaining vision, your primary care and eye providers will communicate with each other. Getting a complete physical exam and bloodwork with your primary care provider can help detect any risk factors.1 Healthy lifestyle changes, including regular exercise, smoking cessation, a low-fat diet, and maintaining an ideal weight, can also be protective.2
References
- Kovach JL, Bailey ST, Kim SJ, et al. Retinal Vein Occlusions Preferred Practice Pattern®. Ophthalmology. 2025;132(4):P303-P343.
- Buehl W, Sacu S, Schmidt-Erfurth U. Retinal vein occlusions. Dev Ophthalmol. 2010;46:54-72.
- Rogers SL, McIntosh RL, Lim L, et al. Natural history of branch retinal vein occlusion: An evidence-based systematic review. Ophthalmology. 2010;117:1094-1101.e5.
- Ford JA, Clar C, Lois N, et al. Treatments for macular oedema following central retinal vein occlusion: Systematic review. BMJ Open. 2014;4:e004120.
- Rehak J, Rehak M. Branch retinal vein occlusion: Pathogenesis visual prognosis and treatment modality. CurrEye Res. 2008;33:111-131. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18293182/
- WillsEye Hospital. Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). https://www.willseye.org/central-retinal-vein-occlusion-crvo/
- American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS). Branch retinal vein occlusion. 2020. https://www.asrs.org/patients/retinal-diseases/24/branch-retinal-vein-occlusion
- Morris R, Retinal vein occlusion. Kerala J Ophthalmol. 2016;28:4-13.
- ASRS. Glossary. https://www.asrs.org/patients/retinal-diseases/10/glossary/#Glaucoma
All URLs accessed May 27, 2025
