What is Retinal Vein Occlusion?

Retinal Vein Occlusion is a condition in which the retina can become severely impaired due to the blockage of blood vessels in the eyes. This in severe cases can eventually lead to blindness. In this illness the veins that take blood away from the retina get obstructed. The Retina is a layer of tissue at the posterior of the inner eye that is responsible for changing photonic signals to nerve signals and sending them to the brain. Atherosclerosis, Diabetes and High blood pressure (hypertension) are all risk factors for this illness. If this condition progresses untreated it can also lead to other eye problems such as glaucoma, macular edema (leakage of fluid in the retina), or vitreous hemorrhage.

Symptoms of Retinal Vein Occlusion

The following are the main symptoms of Retinal Vein Occlusion:

• Vision getting blurred
• Pressure in the arteries increases
• Hypertension
• In severe cases there can be loss of vision
• Clear pressure can be felt on the retinal vein

What Causes Retinal Vein Occlusion?

Some of the major causes of Retinal Vein Occlusion are:

• Development of blood clots
• Arteries becoming hard
• Branch veins in the retina becoming blocked
• Diabetes
• High Blood Pressure
• Blood vessels growing abnormally in the front part of the eyes