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Eyes RVO Diagnosis
Diagnosing RVO
Diagnosing RVO

Diagnosis

If you experience sight loss, your ophthalmologist (eye doctor) will perform several tests to check for RVO. The key test needed for a diagnosis will be the use of imaging to look at the macula.1

The same diagnostic tests are used when looking for any disease of the macula, but your specialist will be looking for slightly different signs. In this case, the focus is on a blockage in the vein and swelling in the surrounding tissue.1 

Diagnostic imaging1-7

  • Fundus evaluation – this is a common exam used to examine the structures in the back of the eye using an ophthalmoscope.
  • Optical coherence tomography (OCT) – this is an imaging technique that takes cross-sectional images of your retina, allowing specialists to gain a more detailed view of your eye.
  • Other imaging tests can be used that involve injecting a dye into your vein to help highlight the blood vessels in your eye. This includes
    • Fluorescein angiography
    • Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA)

Other tests

  • Visual acuity tests – these are tests that are part of a routine eye examination to test your vision and typically involve reading a wall chart of letters or symbols.
  • Amsler test – in this test, you will look at a square-shaped grid called an Amsler grid to determine if your vision is distorted.8
  • Your specialist will also evaluate your own personal assessment of how your vision has changed.

If any of these tests suggest you may have macular oedema, you will be referred to a specialist to begin treatment as soon as possible. 

References

  1. National Eye Institute. Macular Edema. Available at: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/macular-edema. Last accessed April 2025.
  2. Hobbs SD, Tripathy K, Pierce K. Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; August 11, 2024.
  3. Cleveland Clinic. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/optical-coherence-tomography-oct. Last accessed May 2025.
  4. Cleveland Clinic. Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO). Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14206-retinal-vein-occlusion-rvo. Last accessed May 2025.
  5. Lai TY, Cheung CM. MYOPIC CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION: Diagnosis and Treatment. Retina. 2016;36(9):1614-1621.
  6. WebMD. Diagnosing Diabetic Macular Edema. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetic-macular-edema-diagnosis. Last accessed May 2025.
  7. Mayo Clinic. Wet macular degeneration. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wet-macular-degeneration/symptoms-causes/syc-20351107. Last accessed April 2025.
  8. Tripathy K, Salini B. Amsler Grid. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; August 25, 2023.