Treatment of central retinal vein occlusion by injection of tissue plasminogen activator into a retinal vein

PURPOSE: To report the injection of tissue plasminogen activator into a retinal vein to treat central retinal vein occlusion. METHODS: An 81-year-old woman with visual loss of the right eye secondary to central retinal vein occlusion developed central retinal vein occlusion and visual loss in her left eye. Treatment of her left eye with topical ocular hypotensive medications, pentoxifylline, and laser chorioretinal anastomosis was without benefit, Thereafter, she underwent vitreoretinal surgery, including tissue plasminogen activator injection into a branch retinal vein of her left eye, RESULTS: The patient reported subjective improvement in the vision of her Left eye. Ophthalmoscopic and fluorescein angiographic improvement were also noted. CONCLUSION: The feasibility of cannulating a retinal vein for treatment has been demonstrated. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.