However, when the procedure has been effective, visual acuity has improved remarkably. Sometimes a shunt develops spontaneously and vision is restored over time, but the amount of vision recovered is usually somewhat limited. Patients with central retinal vein occlusion who have large areas of severe ischemia and thus extremely poor blood flow are at risk for neovascular glaucoma. Prophylactic treatment with panretinal photocoagulation at the earliest onset of neovascularization has a high likelihood of arresting this complication. No other treatment is possible or recommended.
Patients often present with blurred vision of relatively acute onset.
In some cases, complete resolution can occur without treatment. Chronic changes in the retinal arterioles lead to stiffening of the arterial wall and compression of the vein where it is crossed by an arteriole. Affected patients are generally older than 50 years of age. Association of glaucoma with branch retinal vein occlusion is occasionally seen. A general medical evaluation should be done specifically to check for hypertension and, within the first few weeks after symptom onset, followed by an ophthalmologic examination.