Clinical Features of Central Retinal Vein Occlusion in Young Patients

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the second most common retinal vascular disease. Central RVO (CRVO), in which obstruction occurs posterior to the lamina cribrosa due to various causes, manifests with extensive venous tortuosity, dilatation of blood vessels in the four quadrants, and retinal hemorrhage. The presence of macular edema decreases visual acuity in patients with CRVO, especially in elderly patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. In the last decade, treatment modalities for CRVO have improved, with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents being widely used as treatment. However, there are cases of refractory or recurrent macular edema. Moreover, CRVO also occurs in young patients. This article reviews previous studies and case reports and summarizes the differences in etiological factors, clinical manifestations, treatment, and prognosis between young and elderly patients. Due to the low incidence of CRVO in young patients, clinical data from these age groups are limited. Hence, further studies are warranted to explore the differences between age groups to improve individualization of treatment of young patients.