Epidemiology

The global prevalence of RVO in 2015, regardless of type, was 0.77% among people ages 30-89 years in one meta-analysis.[2] The global prevalence of central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) was 0.13%, while the prevalence of branched retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) was 0.64%.[2]

The incidence of RVO increases with age.[2][3]​​​​ Both CRVO and BRVO occur primarily in people ages >65 years, and are relatively uncommon in people ages <40 years.[4][5][6][7]​​​​​​ In one study, 71% of patients with CRVO and 77% of patients with BRVO were ages ≥65 years.[6] The incidence is equal in men and women and no racial differences in prevalence has been reported.[1][2]​​​[3][5][6]​​​

The Beaver Dam Study reported the incidence rate of CRVO to be 0.002 per person over 5 years, and 0.005 per person over a 15-year period.[6][8] The incidence rate of BRVO was reported as 0.006 per person over 5 years, and 0.018 per person over a 15-year period.[6][8]

Of patients with CRVO in one eye, 1% per year will develop an RVO of any type in the fellow eye, and 7% will develop another CRVO in the fellow eye in a 5-year period.[7][9][10]​​​​​ Similarly, 10% of patients with BRVO in one eye may experience an RVO of any type in a 3-year period.

CRVO results in visual impairment more frequently than BRVO, with macular edema being the leading cause.[3]

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