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Retinal Vascular Occlusions

Retinal vascular occlusions can happen to anyone at any time. At Retina Consultants of Miami in Miami, Florida, our retinal specialists have the expertise and knowledge to diagnose and create a treatment plan for your retinal conditions.

What is a Retinal Vascular Occlusion?

Retinal vascular occlusions occur in the retina, which is located in the back of the eye. The retina is responsible for turning the light that lands on it into information that can be processed by the brain to form an image. 

A healthy functioning retina is vital for clear vision and is an essential part of the visual pathway. Veins and arteries in your retina help circulate blood and bring nutrients and oxygen to the retinal cells.

Like other veins and arteries in your body, these vessels may become blocked. If a vein or artery is blocked, it will not be able to properly detect the light, which will affect your vision.

There are two main types of retinal vascular occlusion: retinal artery occlusion and retinal vein occlusion. A retinal artery occlusion is a blockage in the main artery of the retina that carries blood from your heart to your eye.

A retinal vein occlusion happens in one of your retinal veins, which carry blood back to the heart. Central retinal vein occlusion, or CRVO, occurs when there is a blockage in the main retinal vein or the central retinal vein.

Branch retinal vein occlusion, or BRVO, is when there is a blockage in one of the smaller branches of the veins of the retina. All of these occurrences can cause visual symptoms.

Who Is At-Risk for Retinal Vascular Occlusion?

Although anyone can experience a retinal vascular occlusion, there are certain factors that may make you more at risk. Some of these factors are:

If you have any of these factors, be sure to discuss them with your eye doctor. Your eye doctor will be able to monitor your eyes for any changes related to these conditions.

Request an Appointment

Are you experiencing symptoms of retinal vein occlusion? Schedule an appointment at Retina Consultants of Miami in Miami, FL, today!

What Are the Symptoms of Retinal Vascular Occlusion? 

The main symptom of retinal vascular occlusion is a change in vision. Often this vision change is sudden and can be short-term or permanent. 

Retinal vascular occlusions can cause partial or complete vision loss and often occur in only one eye at a time. Besides a vision change, retinal vascular occlusions do not cause other symptoms. 

If you notice any changes in your vision, it is essential that you schedule an appointment with your eye doctor right away. Seek emergency care immediately if you experience a sudden loss of vision in one eye.

What Treatments Are Available for Retinal Vascular Occlusion?

Currently, there is no specific treatment available for retina artery occlusions. In many cases, vision loss caused by a retinal artery occlusion is permanent.

If you are diagnosed with a retinal vein occlusion, your eye doctor may recommend injection treatments. To treat retinal vein occlusions, eye doctors use anti-VEGF injections.

They may also choose to use corticosteroid medications. Both of these medications aim to control any swelling in the retina. 

Although this treatment method often works to control swelling, it is not a cure. If your eye doctor recommends retinal injections as a method of treatment for your retinal vein occlusion, you will likely need to return to the office for regular injections to control the condition adequately. 

Are you experiencing symptoms of retinal vascular occlusion? Schedule an appointment at Retina Consultants of Miami in Miami, FL, today, so our specialists can accurately diagnose and create a treatment plan for your symptoms!

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