The surgical management of retinal vein occlusion – a “cardiovascular”
approach
Lars-Olof Hattenbach, J. Puchta, S. Nikolic*, F. Koch (Frankfurt a. M., Hannover*)
To date, there is still no consensus among
ophthalmologists about the therapeutic approach in
retinal vein occlusion. Thus far, the mainstay in therapy has been by
medical treatments such
as hemodilution, thrombolysis or the use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet
drugs.
With the advent of more advanced vitreoretinal surgical techniques, the
implementation of typical “cardiovascular” surgical approaches
to the management of retinal vessel occlusion has become technically feasible.
Current data suggest that various surgical treatments including AV decompression,
adventitial sheathotomy, radial optic neurotomy or the cannulation of
retinal vessels have a beneficial effect. Several clinical studies on
the surgical management of retinal vein occlusion are reviewed to determine
whether these concepts are likely to improve major clinical outcomes.
Moreover, the ideal timing for surgical intervention is discussed.