by Nauman A. Chaudhry, M.D.

Branch retinal vein occlusion is a condition in which part of the venous drainage system of the retina is blocked. The retinal artery supplies blood to the retina. The blood flows through retinal arterioles, capillaries and finally through branch retinal veins that drain into the central retinal vein. A blockage in one of these branch retinal veins causes backpressure and leads to hemorrhage, exudation, and/or decreased blood flow in the area of the retina drained by that particular branch retinal vein.

How does branch retinal vein occlusion affect vision?

Branch retinal vein occlusion can affect the vision in a number of ways. Poor blood flow (ischemia) through the center of the retina (macula) can severely decrease the vision. Additionally, exudation and bleeding from the capillaries can cause swelling in the macula (macular edema), which also leads to visual loss. Poor blood flow can also lead to development of abnormal new vessels (neovascularization) not only in the retina, but also in the front part of the eye (rubeosis iridis). These new vessels can lead to development of bleeding in the eye (vitreous hemorrhage) and/or increased eye pressure (neovascular glaucoma). Rarely, scar tissue can form on the surface of the macula causing macular pucker formation. Another rare complication is the development of retinal detachment.

Who is at risk of developing branch retinal vein occlusion?

Branch retinal vein occlusion typically occurs after age 50 with peak incidence between ages 50 and 70. An increased risk for development of branch retinal vein occlusion is demonstrated in individuals with a history of systemic hypertension, history of stroke or coronary artery disease, history of smoking, and history of glaucoma. Rarely, blood clotting abnormalities or certain types of uveitis can predispose to the development of branch retinal vein occlusion.

What is the risk to the other eye?

Almost 10% of patients with branch retinal vein occlusion develop a central retinal vein occlusion or branch retinal vein occlusion in the other eye.

How is branch retinal vein occlusion treated?

The diagnosis of branch retinal vein occlusion can easily be made on clinical examination. However, in the first three to six months following branch vein occlusion, significant intraretinal hemorrhages can make it difficult to predict the clinical course and visual outcome. Once the intraretinal hemorrhages clear, a fluorescein angiogram is usually performed to look for areas of abnormal leakage or poor blood flow within the macula. If the macular blood flow is poor, the chances of visual improvement are limited and treatment is usually not indicated. If there is abnormal leakage, but the blood flow is reasonable, laser treatment can be performed to the areas of abnormal leakage. Laser treatment has been shown to be helpful in improving vision.

If abnormal new vessels (neovascularization) develop, laser treatment is indicated to cause regression of these abnormal vessels. For persistent vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment or macular pucker formation, surgery might be necessary.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections in the eye are also being investigated for the treatment of macular edema and of neovascularization due to retinal vein occlusions