Pharmacotherapy in Vascular Retinopathy

Visual impairment is a major health issue at present. The number of people of all ages visually impaired is 285 million, of whom 39 million are blind. People 50 years and older represent 65% and 82% of visually impaired and blind, respectively. Vascular retinopathy is the consequence of vascular disease, and the retina is the only place where the arteries and veins can be visualized directly. Central retinal vein occlusion as a vasooclusive 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. Although it is more common in the middle-aged and elderly population, no age group is immune to it. The central retinal vein occlusion pathogenesis has varied systemic and local implications that make it difficult to elaborate treatment guidelines. The disease entity has long been known, but there is a great deal of confusion regarding its management. Various new therapeutic approaches have been developed in the past few years.
The objective of this review is to evaluate the treatments commonly advocated, emphasizing evidence-based ones, in the light of our current scientific knowledge of central retinal vein occlusion.