Diagnosis and treatment of eye thrombosis

The ophthalmological examination for a possible eye thrombosis consists of an eye test with fundoscopy – also known as an ocular fundus examination. The retina is examined using a slit lamp.

Macular edema often occurs as a consequence of an eye thrombosis . In order to identify or exclude macular edema, the macula should be examined using OCT. This enables the structures of the central retina to be examined in detail.

OCT angiography (optical coherence tomography angiography) can also be performed. This is a non-invasive examination that makes it possible to visualize the vessels of the retina in order to identify vessels and areas of the retina that are not or only poorly supplied with blood.

For examining the outermost areas of the retina in particular, a conventional vascular examination using fluorescent dye is also possible – fluorescence angiography. This is an invasive ophthalmological examination. A fluorescent dye is brought into the bloodstream through an access in the arm vein. A special camera makes this dye visible in the retina. Vessels not supplied with blood can be easily identified in this way and an eye thrombosis as well as the position of areas of the retina not supplied with blood can be clearly identified.

Anyone who suffers from an eye thrombosis has an generally increased risk of vascular occlusion . It is therefore advisable to have an internal and cardiological examination carried out. A possibly existing glaucoma should also be excluded. In the case of vein occlusions that have been in place for a long time, there is also the risk of so-called secondary glaucoma due to the poor blood circulation and the associated formation of new vessels (Special form of glaucoma) .

Intraocular injection therapy involves injecting medication into the vitreous space of the eye. The injected drug inhibits the growth of diseased vessels, which otherwise can lead to a swelling in the center of the retina and significantly worsen eyesight.

Laser therapy is suitable for treating certain forms of thrombosis in the eye. A laser is used to treat the areas of the retina that are not or only very poorly supplied with blood due to the vein occlusion.

Under certain circumstances, an eye thrombosis finding may not require immediate treatment. In that case, there is a good chance for those affected that the thrombosis in the eye will regenerate again. Nevertheless, constant monitoring by the ophthalmologist is important in order to promptly recognize a sudden deterioration in the findings.