[Branch retinal vein occlusion: high time for cardiovascular risk management]

Cardiovascular risk management is common in patients suffering from manifest cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes mellitus. It is generally accepted that medication is the most effective treatment for reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in these patients. Remarkably, cardiovascular risk management is rare in patients suffering from branch retinal vein occlusion. This common retinal vascular disorder in middle aged and elderly people occurs where a thickened retinal artery compresses the affected vein. Although thrombosis is involved, procoagulant disorders are only present in selected cases. On the other hand, prior diabetes, hypertension, and peripheral artery disease are associated with an increased risk of developing branch retinal vein occlusion up to a decade later, and retinal vascular disorder is associated with an increased risk of subsequently developing hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and cerebrovascular disease later on. Therefore, branch retinal vein occlusion is a marker of developing cardiovascular disease and warrants adequate cardiovascular risk management