Abstract: Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the most common retinal vascular disease second to diabetes retinopathy. The main causes of its visual impairment are macular edema (ME) and ocular neovascularition (NV), especially neovascular glaucoma (NVG). Although the efficacy of laser retinal photocoagulation has long been determined for treatment of ME, NV and NVG, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy can effectively improve the visual outcomes of RVO patients, and has become the first-line treatment for ME and helpful for the treatment of NV and NVG. Recent studies have shown that addition of laser cannot lead to better visual acuity or lower the number of injections in anti-VEGF treatment for RVO-ME, while intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy delayed, but could not prevent NV complication. Scatter laser photocoagulation plays a pivotal role in treatment of NV complications, but prophylactic laser treatment should not be encouraged. (Ophthalmol CHN, 2022, 31: 165-168)

Key words: retina vein occlusion, laser retinal photocoagulation, anti-VEGF therapy