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Guest Editors' Introduction to the Special Issue: Retinal Vein Occlusion

Mehmet Citirik

Mehmet Citirik, SB Ankara Ulucanlar Eye Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Correspondence to: Mehmet Citirik, Ulucanlar Cad. No: 59 06230, Altindag/Ankara/Turkey.
Email: mcitirik@hotmail.com
Telephone: +90-312-3126261
Fax: +90-312-3124827
Received: September 15, 2015
Revised: October 9, 2015
Accepted: October 12, 2015
Published online: March 28, 2016

© 2016 The Authors. Published by ACT Publishing Group Ltd.

Citirik M. Guest Editors' Introduction to the Special Issue: Retinal Vein Occlusion. International Journal of Ophthalmic Research 2016; 2(1): 90 Available from: URL: http://www.ghrnet.org/index.php/ijor/article/view/1351

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a significant cause of visual loss among older adults throughout the world. Population based analysis from several countries estimates that approximately 16 million people worldwide may have retinal vein occlusion. After diabetic retinopathy, the varieties of retinal vein occlusion constitute the most prevalent category of retinal vascular disease. In occlusion site, a pressure build up occurs in the capillaries, leading to hemorrhages and leakage of fluid and blood. The research shows the capillary endothelial damage, tissue ischemia, edema and hypoxia as a result of impairment of vascular permeability and extravasation in the area of occluded vein. Retinal ischemia causes increased production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which causes vascular leakage, macular edema and neovascularization.

Treatment options for RVO have changed dramatically during the last decades. Laser treatment has been used to treat retinal vein occlusion for some time. In recent years, the advent of anti-VEGF drugs and the use of steroids inside the eye have changed that. Use of anti-VEGF molecules in ophthalmology has provided considerable success in treatment of RVO. Current treatment of RVO is directed at secondary complications that affect vision, including macular edema, retinal neovascularization, and anterior segment neovascularization. Currently therapy is being employed for these complications, which had no definitive therapy previously.

This comprehensive, special issue integrates recent advances in epidemiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, classification, clinical diagnosis, and treatments with the parallel progress in understanding of disease mechanisms. This issue is perfect for retina specialists, ophthalmologists, optometrists, and residents and fellows in these fields. It is hoped that this issue will make a good reference material and be of great use for medical physicists.

I would like to thank authors who shared their valuable article to the academic world through International Journal of Ophthalmic Research. I extend sincere thanks to the editors and publishers of the International Journal of Ophthalmic Research for the opportunity to publish our article related to 'Retinal vein occlusion'. It is a great pleasure to share our manuscript with their readership.

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