Treatment:

Many people will regain vision, even without treatment. However, vision rarely returns to normal. There is no way to reverse or open the blockage.

You may need treatment to prevent another blockage from forming in the same or the other eye.

It's important to manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. Some patients may receive aspirin or other blood thinners.

Treatment for the complications of retinal vein occlusion may include:

• Focal laser treatment, if macular edema is present
• Injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs into the eye. These drugs may block the growth of new blood vessels that can cause glaucoma. This treatment is still being studied.
• Laser treatment to prevent the growth of new, abnormal blood vessels that leads to glaucoma

Expectations (prognosis):

The outcome varies. Patients with retinal vein occlusion often regain useful vision.

It is important to properly manage complications, such as macular edema and glaucoma. However, having either of these complications is more likely to lead to a poor outcome.

Complications:

• Glaucoma
• Partial or complete vision loss in the affected eye

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have sudden blurring or vision loss.