Objective To observe the histopathological changes in human eyes with ischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), and to provide objective basis for effective methods of prevention and treatment for (CRVO). Methods Histopathological analysis was performed on the samples of 11 eyes in 11 patients with ischemic CRVO. The changes of central retinal veins (CRV) and central retinal arteries (CRA) wereobserved. Results The lumen of CRV became narrow when passed through the lamina cribrosa in 11 eyes, in which organized thrombus was found in the lamina cribrosa region and post lamina cribrosa region in 5 eyes, and organized thrombus re-unobstructed channels, endothelial proliferation and narrow lumen were found in 6 eyes. Arteriosclerosis of the CRA was observed in all of the 11 eyes with thick wall of the artery and narrow lumen. Proliferation of endothelium of wall of CRA and narrow lumen in the lamina cribrosa region was found in 2 eyes and no thrombus was found at the lamina cribrosa level. Conclusion During the course of ischemic CRVO, thrombus occurs in CRV at the level of lamina cribrosa. The prognosis of CRVO may lie on the time and degree the thrombosis re-opens. The mechanism of CRVO is that CRV is pressed in the narrow interspace of scleral channels of lamina cribrosa. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2007, 23: 163-165)