Harvard Eye Associates - LASIK Orange County
LAGUNA HILLS • SAN CLEMENTE
Orange County, California
800-974-EYES (3937)
Orange County, California
800-974-EYES (3937)
Retinal Vein Occlusion
Central and Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion
Retinal vein occlusion occurs when a small vein that carries blood away from the retina becomes blocked. When a retinal vein is obstructed by an adjacent blood vessel, this can cause a hemorrhage in the retina that can lead to a sudden onset of blurred vision in all or part of an eye, or a severe loss of vision. This condition is most common in adults over the age of 60. Swelling and ischemia (lack of oxygen) of the retina as well as glaucoma are fairly common complications.
Many patients will regain vision without treatment. However, vision rarely returns to normal. Complications from retinal vein occlusion require treatment, including focal laser treatment if macular edema is present, injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs into the eye, or laser treatment to prevent new growth of abnormal blood vessels.
How Is Retinal Vein Occlusion Treated?
Laser Treatment.
Your surgeon may treat your eye with a laser in an attempt to prevent vision loss or restore vision. Laser treatment of retinal vein occlusion varies in effectiveness from patient to patient and would not be appropriate for everyone. This is a subject to discuss with your physician.
Photodynamic Therapy.
Photodynamic therapy uses light to remove new abnormal blood vessels while doing no harm to the surrounding healthy tissue. To begin, the doctor injects the patient in the arm with a drug called verteporfin. This drug travels through the body and into the abnormal blood vessels found inside the eye. Next, the doctor shines a light inside the eye for about 90 seconds that activates the verteporfin drug. This removes the new blood vessels and allows for a slower rate of vision loss. After treatment, patients must avoid direct sunlight or bright light for about a week.
Anti-VEGF Injections.
Abnormal blood vessels may grow inside the eye due to a certain growth factor that occurs. Injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) into the eye slow the growth of new abnormal blood vessels. Patients may need multiple injections during a month's time. Anti-VEGF injections may slow down retinal vein occlusion and sometimes improve sight.
Vitrectomy Surgery.
A vitrectomy is usually recommended for advanced retinal complications. This procedure removes the vitreous and replaces it with a clear gel-like alternative. One example for application would be for the removal of foreign blood caused by a diabetic vitreous hemorrhage.
Vitrectomy surgery may be appropriate for:
- Retinal detachment
- Endophthalmitis
- Intraocular foreign body removal
- Lens retrieval after a complication during cataract surgery
- Epiretinal membrane
- Macular hole
- Diabetic vitreous hemorrhage
- Proliferative vitreoretinopathy
Scleral Buckle.
This procedure uses a piece of plastic sponge to push the eye wall back toward the retina. This allows for the retina to heal. A scleral buckle may also be used to prevent fluids from leaking out of the eye that could cause a progressed retinal detachment.
Our Promise
As always, Harvard Eye is first and foremost concerned about what is best for each individual patient. Call us today for your personalized consultation!
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Harvard Eye Associates Laguna Hills Office Map and Directions 24401 Calle de la Louisa Suites 300-312 Laguna Hills, California 92653 949-951-2020 FAX: 949-356-1660 |
Harvard Eye Associates San Clemente Office Map and Directions 665 Camino de los Mares Suites 102-103 San Clemente, California 92673 949-493-5411 FAX: 949-356-1660 |
The eye doctors of Harvard Eye Associates perform advanced technology diagnostic testing and treatment, as well as taking the time necessary to provide each patient with information needed to fully understand his or her condition and to achieve the best possible visual outcome.
If you or a family member or friend have not had a recent routine eye examination, have a specific eye condition that needs addressing, or are looking for an eye specialist, second opinion, or professional eye consultant please take a moment to Request an Appointment.
In The News
New techniques or improvements in a current technique are occasionally introduced to the medical world.
Harvard Eye Associates is a FDA clinical research study center for emerging technology. This great honor makes it possible for us to offer qualifying patients access to advancements in eye care not yet available to the general public.
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FDA Clinical Research Study
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If you have questions about your eyes, Harvard Eye Associates is here with the information you need.
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Why Choose Us
Internationally regarded as the go-to specialist in eye care, Harvard Eye offers a combined experience of over 100 years and over 100,000 surgical procedures. The doctors of Harvard Eye Associates have treated virtually every known eye condition there is, plus a few previously unknown.
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Before Your Visit
Whether you or a loved one are having a first eye exam, a repeat eye exam, or are seeing a new eye doctor at Harvard Eye for the first time, there are a number of routine questions you can expect.
Your answers to these questions during eye exams are anything but routine for your eye doctor, so you may want to arrive prepared.
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Meet Our Patients
Read testimonials and watch videos of actual Harvard Eye Associates patients who have benefited from our professionalism, dedication, and commitment to high quality patient care.
Our offices provide patients with all eye care needs from routine eye exams to complex surgical procedures.
We are both proud and grateful that our patients have chosen to trust their vision with Harvard Eye!
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How We Give Back
Volunteer work is extremely important to Harvard Eye Associates. Twice yearly, we travel the world to teach and perform surgery to people who have no other resources, and have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to providing medical training and supplies to developing countries.
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