Understanding Retinal Vein Occlusion

Feb 15, 2023

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a disease that affects the retina, the part of the eye that captures light and helps translate it into the images you see. Arteries and veins carry blood to and from the eye. If the veins in the eye become blocked (occluded), this can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness if left untreated.1,2

Types of RVO

There are two types of RVO: Central RVO (CRVO) and Branch RVO (BRVO)

Additionally, hemiretinal vein occlusion (HRVO), often considered a sub-type of CRVO, occurs when two of the smaller veins emptying into the eye’s main vein become blocked. 3

How Many People Have RVO?

RVO affects 1+ million Americans and is the second most common cause of vision loss due to retinal vascular disease4

  • RVO affects men and women equally5
  • RVO may be more common in Asian and Hispanic populations6

  • APPROXIMATELY

    305,000

    AMERICANS HAVE CRVO4

  • APPROXIMATELY

    870,000

    AMERICANS HAVE BRVO4

How Does RVO Affect Your Eye?1,2

Normal blood flow through a retinal vein becomes blocked, causing swelling and bleeding in the macula, the part of the retina that provides sharp, central vision. This can lead to sudden blurring or vision loss in all or part of one eye.

Veins in the retina become blocked, restricting normal blood flow

Blocked veins can cause bleeding, fluid leakage and swelling into the retina

Signs and Symptoms1,2

Sudden blurring or vision loss in part of or all of one eye

Temporary loss of central vision

Central and peripheral visual disturbances

Floaters – dark spots or squiggles in central vision

RVO Risk Factors1,2

Age – people 50 or older

High blood pressure

Hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis)

Diabetes

Glaucoma

Annual Dilated Eye Exam

Experts recommend that you visit an eye doctor every year for a dilated eye exam. It’s the best way to detect changes in vision that may signal RVO.

References

  1. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Central Retinal Vein Occlusion. Available at https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-central-retinal-vein-occlusion. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  2. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion. Available at https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-branch-retinal-vein-occlusion. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  3. Retina Today. RVO Overview. Available at http://retinatoday.com/2018/04/rvo-overview. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  4. Genentech data on file (Based on population-based studies/the Beaver Dam Eye Study 2000 and 2008 and the United States Census)
  5. Song, P., Xu, Y., Zha, M., Zhang, Y., & Rudan, I. (2019). Global epidemiology of retinal vein occlusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence, incidence, and risk factors. Journal of global health, 9(1), 010427. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.09.010427
  6. Rogers, S., McIntosh, R. L., Cheung, N., Lim, L., Wang, J. J., Mitchell, P., Kowalski, J. W., Nguyen, H., Wong, T. Y., & International Eye Disease Consortium (2010). The prevalence of retinal vein occlusion: pooled data from population studies from the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Ophthalmology, 117(2), 313–9.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2009.07.017

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