Retinal surgery for treatment of central retinal vein occlusion.

Vitreous surgery with retinal vein cannulation and injection of tissue plasminogen activator was performed in 8 eyes of 8 patients with longstanding visual loss secondary to central retinal vein occlusion. A modest improvement in visual acuity was demonstrated in 4 of the 8 eyes, and 3 of the 8 eyes maintained the preoperative vision. Retinal vein cannulation may offer a new treatment option for patients with central retinal vein occlusion.