Significance of Selected Blood Platelet Parameters in Retinal Vein Occlusion

Retinal vein occlusion is a disease, in which there is impaired venous return from the retinal circulation. The classification of disease depends on a site of the obstruction. Retinal vein occlusion can be divided into branch retinal vein occlusion and central retinal vein occlusion. The pathogenesis is multifactorial and still unclear. Etiopathogenesis of the disease is dependent on both local and systemic factors. As a result of pathophysiological change inside venous vessels in the fundus of the eye, it comes to haemodynamic disturbance in blood flow and damaging endothelium. These modifications lead to thrombus formation, which results in the vessel occlusion. The pathogenic mechanism underlying the thrombotic tendency in this disorder is still not fully understood. The diagnosis of retinal vein occlusion is based on both eye examination and general examination, including laboratory tests of selected haemostasis parameters. Reports from medical literature suggest that monitoring selected parameters of platelets: platelet function, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, platelet large cell ratio is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal vein occlusion. Monitoring these parameters is important not only for the vision organ but also is the precondition for systemic perspective on patient because appearance of retinal vein occlusion constitutes an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.