The Retinal Vein Occlusion Market is estimated to be valued at USD 2.27 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 5.35 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7% from 2024 to 2031. The primary factors driving market growth are the rising geriatric population which is more susceptible to retinal diseases and increase in ophthalmic disease prevalence globally.

The Retinal Vein Occlusion market is expected to witness positive growth over the forecast period due to increasing research activities for development of novel drugs for treatment of retinal vein occlusion. Additionally, growth opportunities in emerging markets and rise in healthcare expenditure are further expected to supplement the market growth through 2031.

Market Driver - Increasing Prevalence of Retinal Vein Occlusion Due to Aging Population and Associated Comorbidities.

One of the key drivers propelling the growth of retinal vein occlusion market is the rising prevalence of retinal vein occlusion worldwide. Retinal vein occlusion is a condition where a retinal vein in the eye gets blocked by a blood clot leading to swelling of the retina. It usually affects older adults, often those aged above 60 years. The global population is aging at an unprecedented rate primarily due to increased life expectancy and declining fertility rates. According to the United Nations, the number of people aged 65 years or above will more than double from present 703 million to about 1.5 billion by 2050. This exponential growth in the aging population is an important concern for the retinal vein occlusion market as retinal vein occlusion is highly prevalent among the geriatric population.

Advanced age poses a higher risk of retinal vein occlusion due to thinning and loss of elasticity of retinal vessels with age. In addition, aging is often associated with a host of comorbid health conditions like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol levels etc. which further exacerbates the risk of retinal vein occlusion. Diabetes, in particular, has emerged as a major risk factor that significantly increases the chances of developing retinal vein occlusion. According to International Diabetes Federation estimates, approximately 463 million adults aged between 20 and 79 years are living with diabetes worldwide in 2019 which is projected to rise to over 700 million by 2045. Being a metabolic disorder, diabetes adversely affects small blood vessels like retinal vessels over time making them vulnerable to blockages. Sustained increase in diabetes prevalence and growing geriatric demography would inevitably augment the future burden of retinal vein occlusion, thereby driving the market growth.

Market Driver- Technological Advancements in Diagnostic and Treatment Options Boosts Market Growth.

Another important factor catalysing the revenue generation in retinal vein occlusion market is the ongoing technological progress in diagnosis and treatment of this eye condition. Historically, laser surgery, injections of medicines into the eye and surgery were the treatment options for retinal vein occlusion. However, these traditional approaches often produced unsatisfactory results with high recurrence rates. Over the past decade, biotechnology and innovation has brought transformative changes in retinal vein occlusion management. Chief among them is the emergence of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) therapy which has revolutionized the treatment paradigm. Anti-VEGF drugs like ranibizumab, bevacizumab and aflibercept act by inhibiting VEGF which is the key driver of abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage in retinal vein occlusion.

Consisting of intravitreal injections administered directly into the eye, anti-VEGF therapy has demonstrated superior efficacy over laser or steroid treatments in rapidly improving and maintaining vision. It has become the gold standard first line treatment for retinal vein occlusion. Further, advanced optical coherence tomography imaging devices enable high resolution 3D visualization of the retina and precise detection of fluid build-up, impaired vision and macular edema caused due to retinal vein occlusion. Wide availability of such user-friendly diagnostic modalities empowers eye care professionals to monitor disease progression closely and initiate timely intervention.

Breakthrough innovations are also occurring in sustained drug delivery techniques. For instance, implantable devices or ports are being evaluated which can steadily release anti-VEGF agents over months, obviating the need for frequent eye injections. Such novel platforms hold promise to enhance treatment adherence, reduce patients’ burden and healthcare costs in the long run. Rising R&D investments by pharmaceutical players in discovering more effective anti-VEGF drugs and combination therapies will additionally drive technology led market growth.

Market Challenge - High Treatment Costs and Frequent Hospital Visits Leading to Non-Compliance Among Patients.

The high cost of treatment and frequent hospital visits required for current standard of care therapies pose a major challenge for the retinal vein occlusion market. Traditional therapies such as anti-VEGF injections and laser photocoagulation require patients to make monthly visits to physicians for administration over extended periods of time. This leads to a heavy financial burden on patients due to frequent doctor visits, costs of drugs and imaging tests required during treatment. The average annual cost of anti-VEGF injections alone can range from USD 25,000 to USD 50,000 making it unaffordable for many patients. The economic burden and hassle of regular hospital visits also contributes to reduced compliance among patients. As a result, many patients discontinue treatment prematurely affecting clinical outcomes. This may negatively impact the overall market potential if a significant number of patients remain untreated or under-treated due to costs. The inability to improve patient adherence to therapy over the long-term remains a major challenge for sustainable growth of the retinal vein occlusion market.

Market Opportunity: Development Of Novel Therapies with Longer Duration of Action and Improved Efficacy.

The retinal vein occlusion market represents significant opportunities with the development of novel treatment approaches. There is an urgent need for therapies that can reduce treatment burden on patients through longer duration of action compared to existing drugs. This can help overcome the challenges around compliance and adherence posed by frequent hospital visits. Drugs delivered through new formulations and routes of administration promising extended intravitreal half-lives have the potential to transform the market. Such therapies requiring fewer injections over time will improve patient compliance and lower indirect costs to the healthcare system. In addition, new drugs offering superior efficacy outcomes through more effective targeting of pathways involved in disease pathology can capture greater market share. This includes molecules targeting angiopoietin and inflammatory pathways in addition to VEGF. Overall, novel therapies bringing about paradigm change through improved convenience and clinical benefits have the opportunity to accelerate growth in the retinal vein occlusion market.

Strategic partnerships and collaborations have been a critical strategy for companies. For instance, in 2021, Formycon AG entered into a strategic partnership with Aerpio Pharmaceuticals to develop aflibercept injection (AER-211) for treating retinal vein occlusion. This expands both companies' product portfolios and commercial presence.

Fast-track FDA approval process has also given an edge to players. For example, in 2022, Roche’s Vabysmo (faricimab-svoa), a bispecific antibody targeting both angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and VEGF-A pathways, was approved by the FDA for treating RVO. Vabysmo has shown significant potential in enhancing and maintaining vision and reducing retinal moisture. The BALATON and COMINO Phase III studies demonstrated that Vabysmo is effective in both central and branch retinal vein occlusions, with a safety profile consistent with previous trials​.

Another successful strategy has been extensive clinical trials to obtain strong evidence. Anti-VEGF therapies, such as LUCENTIS (ranibizumab), EYLEA (aflibercept), and OZURDEX (dexamethasone intravitreal implant), continue to dominate the market due to their effectiveness in preventing vision loss and improving visual outcomes. EYLEA and Vabysmo are particularly notable for reducing vascular permeability and inflammation associated with RVO.

These examples of strategic partnerships, fast approval process, robust clinical evidence and geographical expansion have helped key players gain early mover advantage, strengthen product portfolio and establish strong market presence in the retinal vein occlusion treatment market. Collectively, such winning strategies have led to revenue growth and market leadership for companies.

Insights, By Type of Treatment: Anti-VEGF Therapies Dominate Owing to Their Popularity in Clinical Treatments.

By Type of Treatment, Anti-VEGF Therapies contributes the highest market share at 64.30% in 2024 owing to its strong efficacy in significantly improving vision in retinal vein occlusion patients. As the underlying mechanism in most cases of retinal vein occlusion involves abnormal growth of tiny blood vessels and increased vascular permeability, anti-VEGF drugs are extremely effective in targeting these pathological processes. The robust evidence from extensive clinical research has proven anti-VEGF therapies such as ranibizumab and aflibercept can help achieve meaningful vision gains in over 90% of CRVO and BRVO cases treated, making it the go-to standard of care. Moreover, the convenience of intravitreal injections with anti-VEGF drugs over alternative options like laser therapy has boosted its popularity among retina specialists as well as patients.

Insights, By Type of Retinal Vein Occlusion: Retinal Vasculature Blockage Location Matters.

By type of Retinal Vein Occlusion, Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO) contributes the highest share of the market owing to its severe impact on vision. CRVO involves blockage of the central retinal vein that drains the retina, leading to rapid onset of vision loss and associated eye risks. While both CRVO and BRVO damage retinal circulation, CRVO tends to affect the entire retina due to obstruction of the major retinal vein. This makes treatment of CRVO all the more important to restore vision. As a larger proportion of retinal vein occlusion cases involve central retinal vein rather than branch retinal veins, managing CRVO takes precedence to prevent irreversible blindness. Furthermore, the widespread downstream effects of CRVO raise the clinical urgency for early diagnosis and prompt intervention with anti-VEGF treatment.

Insights, By Route of Administration: Intravitreal Injections Held a Prominent Market Share.

In terms of By Route of Administration, Intravitreal Injections contributes the highest market share owing to targeted ocular drug delivery. Administering anti-VEGF drugs via intravitreal injections enables high drug concentrations to reach the retina and posterior eye segment for maximum therapeutic effect. Injecting medications straight into the vitreous cavity bypass systemic absorption and associated side-effects seen with other administration routes. This allows achieving therapeutic retinal levels with lower drug doses. Combined with the ability to customize dosing frequency, intravitreal administration offers retina specialists precise pharmacological control over treatment response. Overall, the benefits of direct injection therapy have solidified intravitreal route as the standard of care for retinal vein occlusion, bolstering its market dominance over alternative administration methods.

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a leading cause of vision loss, primarily affecting elderly patients with systemic vascular diseases. RVO is classified into CRVO and BRVO based on the site of venous blockage. Current treatments, including anti-VEGF therapies and corticosteroids, aim to manage symptoms and prevent further vision deterioration rather than curing the underlying condition. The need for frequent treatments, high costs, and limited effectiveness in restoring lost vision are significant challenges. Emerging therapies like VABYSMO (faricimab) offer hope with novel mechanisms targeting multiple pathways, aiming to provide longer-lasting efficacy and reduced treatment burdens. The ongoing development of therapies with extended durations and improved safety profiles could revolutionize the RVO treatment landscape, addressing critical unmet needs and potentially reducing the overall burden of this sight-threatening condition.

The major players operating in the Retinal Vein Occlusion Market include Roche, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie, Novartis, Kodiak Sciences Inc, Taiwan Liposome Company, Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Graybug Vision, Outlook Therapeutics and Chugai Pharmaceuticals.

• In 2023, FDA approved VABYSMO (faricimab) by Roche/Chugai for macular edema following retinal vein occlusion, providing a new dual-pathway therapeutic option that combines VEGF-A and Ang-2 inhibition.
• In 2021, Roche has developed the first refillable eye implant, Susvimo, which continuously delivers ranibizumab, aiming to reduce the frequency of eye injections. This innovation exemplifies the ongoing efforts to improve patient convenience and adherence to treatment regimens​.

• By Type Of Treatment
  • Anti-VEGF Therapies
  • Corticosteroids
  • Laser Therapy
  • Off-Label Therapy
• By Type of Retinal Vein Occlusion
  • Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO)
  • Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO)
• By Route of Administration
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Systemic Administration