Histopathological study of a case with branch retinal vein occlusion.

A retinal specimen from a 68-year-old patient with glaucoma and branch retinal vein occlusion was examined by light and electron microscopy. The venous and arterial lumina were filled with erythrocytes, and many erythrocytes extravasated into the venous wall. We suggest that constant rubbing of endothelial cells of the occluded vein results in damage and erythrocyte extravasation was caused by diapedesis.