Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a common vascular disorder of the retina and one of the most common causes of vision loss worldwide. Specifically, it is the second most common cause of blindness from retinal vascular disease after diabetic retinopathy.
Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) may be asymptomatic and noted incidentally on funduscopic examination, or patients may complain of relative scotoma or areas of blurred vision, classically worsening over hours to days.
The primary physician’s treatment of RVO is aimed at managing predisposing risk factors. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and glaucoma are major risk factors in older patients. Hypercoagulability and vasculitis are key risk factors in the development of RVO in younger patients.