What Is Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion?

Branch retinal vein occlusion is a condition that effects the retina, the tissue at the back of the eye where images are formed. The National Institute of Health describes it as a blockage that cuts the flow of blood to the retina.

Causes

• The Angeles Vision clinic notes that branch retinal vein occlusion is essentially a vascular (rather than strictly vision) condition. As such, the causes are those associated with blood vessel disorders and include hypertension, vasculitis, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Symptoms

• The primary symptoms are the acute (sudden) blurring of vision and an acute loss of vision. The loss of vision may be partial or complete.

Diagnosis

• Swelling of and hemorrhaging in the eye allows an optometrist to make a diagnosis through a visual inspection. Tests that may be performed include visual field tests, intraocular pressure (pressure in eye) tests and acuity tests.

Treatment

• The Angeles Vision Clinic reports that there are no specific treatments for branch retinal vein occlusion, though clot-busting medications may be employed in some circumstances.

Prevalence

• The Angeles Vision Clinic mentions that branch retinal vein occlusion is more common among those over the age of 50, though it does occur infrequently in younger patients.