![]() ![]() In this type macular hole surgery, a gas bubble is also placed in the eye and the patient usually needs to keep their head down for a period of time. Treatment for a macular hole usually requires surgery called a vitrectomy. Macular degeneration is a different eye-related condition that also affects elderly people. It is important to point out that a macular hole is not the same as macular degeneration. Macular holes are more prevalent in women than men. A macular hole can also be called a retinal hole, a macular cyst, or retinal perforation. In severe cases, a hole in the macula can cause loss of central vision and the ability to see finely detailed images. A hole is caused when the vitreous, the gel-like substance in the eye, shrinks and starts to come away from the retina. The macula enables us to see sharp, clear images. It is a light-sensitive layer, which converts light into signals that tell the brain what we are looking at. The macula is at the back of the eye, situated in the middle of the retina. It is critical to control high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and other health conditions that increase the risk of vascular hardening, narrowing and blood clotting. There is no cure for retinal vein occlusions, so emphasis is placed on risk management, treatment of symptoms and prevention of further vision loss. For these reasons, it is important to have routine eye exams and also to check one’s own vision by closing one eye at a time. Retinal vein occlusions do not cause a change in physical appearance, and BRVOs often occur with no pain or noticeable loss of vision. If the largest vein leaving the eye is affected, the condition is known as a central retinal vein occlusion, or CRVO otherwise, it is called a branch retinal vein occlusion, or BRVO. Treatment and prognosis depend on the severity of the blockage and the location of the occluded vein. Risk factors include atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, glaucoma, and, in rare cases, blood clotting and inflammatory conditions. The condition occurs most often in men and women over the age of 50, particularly those in their 60s and 70s. Retinal vein occlusions are the second most common cause of blood vessel-related vision loss (the first is diabetic retinopathy). ![]() The restricted circulation leads to high pressure in the eye, which can in turn cause swelling, bleeding, growth of abnormal blood vessels, and partial or total vision loss. The vein can then become blocked, or occluded, making it difficult for blood to leave the eye. Sometimes one of these arteries hardens or swells and presses on a nearby vein. There are numerous treatments for a retinal vein occlusion from laser to intravitreal injections. ![]()
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