Retinal Vascular Disease Treatment in Long Beach, CA
If you have heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes, you may be at increased risk for developing a retinal vascular disease — a group of conditions that affect the blood vessels of the eye and can lead to serious vision loss if left untreated. At Apex Retina Institute in Long Beach, CA, board-certified ophthalmologist Darren Knight, MD, and his team provide comprehensive care for retinal vascular disease, including intravitreal medications and retinal laser surgery. Call (562) 534-1777 today or book your appointment online.
What Is Retinal Vascular Disease?
Retinal vascular disease is an umbrella term for a group of conditions that affect the blood vessels supplying the retina — the thin, light-sensitive layer of nerve tissue at the back of the eye responsible for capturing visual information and sending it to the brain. When the retinal blood vessels are damaged, blocked, or leaking, the retina is deprived of the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function properly, leading to progressive vision impairment or loss.
While retinal vascular disease can affect anyone, it is most commonly associated with systemic health conditions that affect the cardiovascular system, including hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, and poor circulation. Early detection and treatment are essential for preserving vision and preventing irreversible retinal damage. At Apex Retina Institute, Dr. Knight works with each patient to identify underlying risk factors, monitor retinal health closely, and intervene with the most effective treatments available before vision is permanently affected.
What Are the Types of Retinal Vascular Disease?
Dr. Knight and the Apex Retina Institute team diagnose and treat all major forms of retinal vascular disease, including the following:
Diabetic Retinopathy — Diabetic retinopathy is the most common form of retinal vascular disease and one of the leading causes of vision loss in working-age adults. It develops as a complication of poorly controlled blood sugar levels, which damage the walls of the small blood vessels supplying the retina over time. As these vessels deteriorate, they may swell, leak fluid, or become blocked. The eye then attempts to compensate by generating new, abnormal blood vessels — a process called neovascularization — but these new vessels are fragile, prone to bleeding, and can cause significant retinal damage and vision loss if left untreated.
Hypertensive Retinopathy — Hypertensive retinopathy develops as a result of chronic, uncontrolled high blood pressure. The sustained elevation in blood pressure causes the walls of the retinal blood vessels to thicken, narrow, and become less flexible over time. These structural changes reduce blood flow to the retina, place additional strain on the optic nerve, and can lead to retinal hemorrhages, swelling, and progressive vision loss. Managing blood pressure through medical care and lifestyle modification is central to preventing and slowing hypertensive retinopathy.
Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO) — Retinal vein occlusion occurs when one or more of the veins draining blood from the retina becomes partially or fully blocked — most often due to a blood clot or compression from a nearby hardened artery. When venous outflow is obstructed, blood and fluid back up into the retinal tissue, causing hemorrhages, swelling of the macula (macular edema), and potential vision loss. RVO can affect a branch of the retinal vein (branch retinal vein occlusion, or BRVO) or the central retinal vein itself (central retinal vein occlusion, or CRVO). Risk factors include hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and glaucoma.
Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO) — Central retinal artery occlusion is a serious and often sudden condition in which the main artery supplying blood to the retina becomes blocked, cutting off the retina’s oxygen supply. CRAO is the ocular equivalent of a stroke and can cause sudden, profound, and often permanent vision loss in the affected eye if not treated as an emergency. Patients who experience a sudden, painless loss of vision in one eye should seek immediate medical evaluation. Risk factors for CRAO include cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and carotid artery disease.
How Is Retinal Vascular Disease Diagnosed?
At Apex Retina Institute, Dr. Knight conducts a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation to accurately identify the type and severity of retinal vascular disease and develop an appropriate treatment plan. Your visit will begin with a thorough review of your medical history — including any systemic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease — followed by a detailed dilated eye examination. Dr. Knight may also order one or more of the following imaging studies:
Fluorescein Angiography — A small amount of fluorescent dye is injected into a vein, and a specialized camera captures images as the dye travels through the retinal blood vessels. This test allows Dr. Knight to precisely identify areas of leakage, blockage, or abnormal vessel growth that may not be visible during a standard exam.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) — OCT produces detailed, cross-sectional images of the retina and macula, allowing Dr. Knight to detect and measure fluid accumulation, retinal thickening, and other structural changes caused by vascular disease. OCT angiography (OCTA) may also be used to image the retinal vasculature without dye injection, providing a non-invasive look at blood flow patterns within the retina.
How Is Retinal Vascular Disease Treated?
Treatment for retinal vascular disease is tailored to the specific type and stage of disease, the degree of vision impairment, and each patient’s overall health and medical history. At Apex Retina Institute, Dr. Knight offers a comprehensive range of treatment options designed to stabilize vision, reduce retinal damage, and address the underlying vascular changes driving the disease.
For patients with early or mild retinal vascular disease, Dr. Knight may begin with recommendations for lifestyle modifications — such as quitting smoking, improving diet, increasing physical activity, and working closely with a primary care physician or cardiologist to optimize blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol management. These systemic changes are essential to slowing the progression of retinal vascular disease and reducing the risk of further ocular and cardiovascular events.
When active retinal disease requires more direct intervention, Dr. Knight may recommend intravitreal anti-VEGF injections, which are highly effective at reducing macular edema and blocking the growth of abnormal blood vessels associated with diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion. Corticosteroid injections may also be used in select cases to reduce inflammation and fluid buildup. Retinal laser therapy — including panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) for proliferative diabetic retinopathy and focal laser for macular edema — remains an important tool for reducing ischemia-driven neovascularization and sealing leaking vessels. In cases involving significant vitreous hemorrhage or tractional complications, a vitrectomy may be recommended to remove blood from the eye and address retinal traction directly. To schedule a retinal vascular disease evaluation at Apex Retina Institute in Long Beach, CA, call (562) 534-1777 or request an appointment online.
Frequently Asked Questions About Retinal Vascular Disease
What are the warning signs of retinal vascular disease?
Retinal vascular disease can be difficult to detect in its early stages, as it may cause no symptoms at all — which is one of the most important reasons for regular eye exams, especially for patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, or cardiovascular disease. As the disease progresses, warning signs may include blurred or distorted central vision, sudden vision loss in one eye, dark spots or floaters in the visual field, and difficulty seeing at night. If you experience any sudden or unexplained changes in your vision, contact Apex Retina Institute at (562) 534-1777 right away.
How is retinal vascular disease related to diabetes?
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common form of retinal vascular disease and develops as a direct complication of diabetes. Chronically elevated blood sugar levels damage the walls of the tiny blood vessels in the retina, causing them to leak, swell, or close off. In advanced cases, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the retinal surface and can bleed into the vitreous or cause tractional retinal detachment. Tight blood sugar control and annual retinal exams are the most effective tools for preventing diabetic retinal disease from progressing.
Can retinal vascular disease be reversed?
In most cases, the damage caused by retinal vascular disease cannot be fully reversed, but early diagnosis and treatment can halt progression and, in many patients, lead to meaningful improvements in vision. Treatments such as anti-VEGF eye injections and retinal laser therapy have been shown to stabilize and in some cases improve visual acuity in patients with macular edema from retinal vein occlusion or diabetic retinopathy. Managing the underlying systemic conditions driving the disease is equally essential to achieving the best long-term outcomes.
What is the difference between retinal vein occlusion and retinal artery occlusion?
Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) occurs when a vein draining blood away from the retina becomes blocked, causing blood and fluid to back up into the retinal tissue and leading to hemorrhage and swelling. Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), by contrast, occurs when the artery delivering oxygen-rich blood to the retina is blocked — cutting off the retina’s blood supply and causing sudden, often severe vision loss. CRAO is considered an ocular emergency and requires immediate evaluation. Both conditions are diagnosed and treated at Apex Retina Institute in Long Beach, CA.
Does Apex Retina Institute treat all types of retinal vascular disease?
Yes — Dr. Knight and the Apex Retina Institute team have extensive experience diagnosing and managing all major forms of retinal vascular disease, including diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and central retinal artery occlusion. We offer a full range of treatment options under one roof in our Long Beach office, from anti-VEGF injections and laser therapy to vitrectomy surgery for complex cases. Visit our services page for a complete overview of what we offer.
Does Apex Retina Institute accept insurance for retinal vascular disease treatment?
Apex Retina Institute accepts a wide range of insurance plans to help make specialized retina care as accessible as possible for patients throughout Long Beach, CA and the greater Los Angeles area. Treatment for retinal vascular disease is typically covered by Medicare and many major insurance plans when medically indicated. Visit our insurances page to review accepted plans, or call our office at (562) 534-1777 to verify your coverage before your appointment.
How do I schedule a retinal vascular disease consultation at Apex Retina Institute?
To schedule a retinal vascular disease evaluation at Apex Retina Institute in Long Beach, CA, call our office at (562) 534-1777 or request an appointment online. If you are a new patient, visit our new patients page to learn what to bring and what to expect at your first visit. Our team is here to provide the compassionate, expert retinal care you deserve.