[Retinal vascular occlusion: possibilities of a direct oxygen supply to the hypoxic areas]

Treatment of a retinal vascular occlusion consists in restoration of normal oxygenation to the affected area. An experimentally induced increase in arterial CO2 provokes an increase in preretinal CO2 in a hypoxic retinal area which has developed after venous obstruction, but it is ineffective in anoxic areas of an arterial occlusion. However, clinical application of this treatment offers no benefit for the patient. Hyperoxia caused by respiration of a gas mixture of 5% CO2 and 95% O2 is also ineffective. On the other hand, the results of recent studies in which blood is replaced with fluorocarbon solutions are promising. Finally, it is pointed out that in cases of venous occlusion laser coagulation leads to reoxygenation of the inner hypoxic retina.