Treatment Options of Macular Edema Secondary to Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO): A Review

Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO) is a common retinal vascular disease secondary to diabetic retinopathy resulting in permanent loss of vision despite available treatment options. Main vision impending complication of retinal vein occlusion is macular edema. Laser photocoagulation has been an established method for treating macular edema for many years but nowadays intravitreal injection of Anti-Vascular endothelial growth factors (Ranibizumab, Aflibercept Bevacizumab and Pegaptanib sodium) is the treatment of choice for macular edema from retinal vein occlusion. Intra-vitreal corticosteroids Triamcinolone Acetonide and Dexamethasone implant, are also being used to treat in some macular edema cases but with higher rates of side effects. Numerous surgical methods have been attempted for treating RVO and preventing macular edema; they include pars plana vitrectomy, radial optic neurotomy, laser induced chorioretinal anastomosis, and arteriovenous sheathotomy. Surgical methods supposedly relieve compression of the central retinal vein, altering the pathophysiology of vein occlusion at the level of the lamina cribrosa thus improving blood flow and oxygenation. But limitations result from its complications.