Dr. Francis DeCroosQ: What is a retinal vein occlusion and how can it cause vision loss?
A: The retina is a tissue in the back of the eye that converts light into an electrical signal for the brain to interpret. Arteries carry blood to the retina, and veins carry blood back to the heart. When a retinal vein is blocked, blood can no longer drain from the retina and go back to the heart. A retinal vein occlusion can occur at any part of the retinal vein and can cause vision loss. One cause is retinal swelling due to blood and fluid leaking from the blocked retinal vein; another is abnormal blood-vessel growth due to lowered oxygen levels in the back of the eye from the occluded vein. These abnormal blood vessels can leak blood, can cause a dangerous increase in eye pressure, and can even cause the retina to detach from the back of the eye.
– Dr. Francis C. DeCroos, Southeastern Retina Associates; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society
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