If the angiomas enlarge to an extent that the retina can be detached, hemorrhaging and scarring can occur. These can all lead to decrease in visual acuity of the affected individual. Often patients do not have symptoms as these lesions tend to progress slowly. Decreased visual acuity can also cause adults to seek medical help and subsequent detection of the disease. The treatment of the retinal angiomas will depend on the location and size of the lesions.
Small lesions are easy to treat successfully while large lesions are notoriously difficult to treat.
If the tumor is located on the optic nerve, the nerve that connects the eye to the brain, treatment is fraught with difficulties. Marked adverse side-effects are associated with treatment of such tumors with laser photocoagulation. Fortunately, these tumors may remain asymptomatic for long periods of time. For patients with the more severe changes such as retinal detachment, hemorrhage and scarring, the procedure called vitrectomy can be performed. This involves the introduction of microinstruments under the guidance of a microscope to remove the areas of scarring and to flatten out the retina.