Experimental retinal vein occlusion, a model of non‐neovascular microvascular remodeling

The main cause of visual loss after retinal vein occlusion and diabetes is microvascular remodelling, a spectrum of functional and morphological changes affecting vessels. Some are beneficial, such as collateral vessel development. The other manifestations of microvascular remodelling are usually detrimental such as chronic rupture of the blood-retinal barrier, capillary closure or macroaneurysms. The processes underlying microvascular remodelling are poorly understood, in part because of the absence of a clinically meaningful animal model. We have been investigating the effet of retinal vein occlusion in rodents using laser photocoagulation, which eanbled us to reproduce many of the features of human microvascular remodelling. Based on our experience, we will discuss issues related to interspecies variability and clinical relevance.