Circulatory Disorder of Branch Retinal Vein: Therapy Update

Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) as a circulatory disorder of the retinal vein is the most common visually disabling disease affecting the retina after diabetic retinopathy, and is a frequent cause of vision loss and even blindness. Previously, the only treatment for this retinal vascular disease was grid laser photocoagulation, which reduces edema very slowly and provides benefit in some, but not all patients. Lately, however, treatment paradigms have been changing. The availability of pharmacologic interventions, including intravitreal injection of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors has shown that other approaches to treatment can play a role in management of BRVO. The objective of this review is to evaluate the latest treatments commonly advocated, emphasizing evidence-based ones, in the light of our current scientific knowledge of retinal vein occlusion.