
An eye stroke, or retinal artery occlusion, occurs when blood flow to the retina is blocked, usually by a blood clot. This can cause permanent vision loss if not treated promptly. The retina is a thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye that senses light and sends visual signals to the brain. When blood flow to the retina is interrupted, the cells can start to die within minutes or hours, causing severe damage to the eye. While eye strokes typically affect only one eye, they can be a warning sign of clots elsewhere in the body, including the brain, which may cause a stroke.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
What is it? | A blockage in the blood vessels that carry blood to the retina, usually caused by a blood clot or narrowing of the blood vessels. |
What causes it? | Blood clots, fatty plaque buildup, or narrowing of the blood vessels due to conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or heart disease. |
Risk factors | Older adults, men, personal or family history of stroke, heart attack, coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, rare blood disorders, tobacco use, and certain medical conditions. |
Symptoms | Loss of vision or partial vision in one eye, floaters, blurred vision, bleeding in the retina, pain or pressure in the eye, and vision changes that worsen over time. |
Diagnosis | Eye examination, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, slit-lamp examination, visual field test, blood tests, and other general tests to identify the cause. |
Treatment | Eye massage, clot-dissolving medications, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs, corticosteroids, pan-retinal photocoagulation therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and other treatments to improve blood flow and reduce pressure in the eye. |
Prevention | Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, managing blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar levels, and getting regular eye check-ups. |
Complications | Macular edema, neovascularization, neovascular glaucoma, blindness, and permanent vision loss. |
What You'll Learn
What is an eye stroke?
An eye stroke, or retinal artery occlusion, occurs when there is a blockage in the blood vessels that supply blood to the retina. The blood vessels in the body are responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients to all body parts. When the blood supply is cut off, a stroke can occur, leading to significant damage.
The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that transfers visual information to the brain for interpretation and processing. This enables us to see images clearly. The blood vessels that enter the retina via the optic nerve are called the 'central' blood vessels. As these blood vessels branch out, they are referred to as 'branch' blood vessels.
When the central or branch blood vessels in the retina become blocked, fluid can leak into the retina, causing swelling and inflammation. This is what ultimately impacts one's ability to see. The blockage is often a blood clot, but it can also be caused by something solid like plaque or infection that has broken off from another part of the body.
There are different types of eye strokes, depending on the blood vessel that is affected:
- Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO): The blockage is located in the retina's central artery.
- Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO): The blockage is located within the smaller branch arteries of the retina.
- Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO): The blockage is in the main central retinal vein.
- Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO): The blockage is located within one of the smaller retinal branch veins.
Eye stroke symptoms can come on suddenly or develop gradually over a few hours or days. The distinguishing symptom is that it typically occurs in only one eye. Prompt treatment is essential to prevent permanent vision loss.
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What are the symptoms of an eye stroke?
An eye stroke, or retinal artery occlusion, occurs when something blocks an artery that supplies blood to the retina. The blockage is often a blood clot. The retina is the part of the eye that communicates with the brain to turn light into images.
The symptoms of an eye stroke are usually painless and typically affect only one eye. They can develop slowly over hours or days, or they can come on suddenly. The first and main symptom is usually a sudden loss of vision or change in vision in one eye, which may include:
- Floaters and flashes
- Blind spots or darkness
- Vision changes that start out small but get worse over time
- Blurred vision
- Vision loss, which can be either gradual or sudden, and subtle or severe
- Pain or pressure: although eye strokes are often painless, severe cases may cause localized pressure or discomfort in the affected eye
- Bleeding: the retina may appear red or have blood spots throughout
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention, as eye strokes are a medical emergency and can lead to permanent vision loss.
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What causes an eye stroke?
An eye stroke, or retinal artery occlusion, occurs when blood flow to the retina is blocked. The retina is the thin film at the back of the eye that sends light signals to the brain, allowing us to see. When blood flow to the retina is interrupted, severe damage to the eye can occur.
The interruption of blood flow is usually due to the narrowing of the blood vessels, often caused by fatty plaque buildup or a blood clot. The clot may form in the retina or travel there from another part of the body.
Certain health conditions can increase the risk of an eye stroke, including:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Cardiovascular conditions
- Carotid artery disease
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Clotting disorders
- Sickle cell disease
- Vasculitis
- Rare blood disorders
Eye strokes are medical emergencies and require immediate care. If left untreated, they can cause permanent vision loss or blindness.
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How is an eye stroke diagnosed?
An eye stroke, or retinal artery occlusion, occurs when something blocks an artery that supplies blood to the retina. The blockage is often a blood clot. The retina is the part of the eye that communicates with the brain to turn light into images.
An eye stroke is a medical emergency. If you experience a sudden complete or partial loss of vision in one eye, a doctor may diagnose an eye stroke by:
- Taking a medical history and asking about your symptoms
- Performing a complete eye exam, including fundoscopy (ophthalmoscopy), which involves the use of a bright light and an ophthalmoscope to examine the eyes
- Ordering fluorescein angiography tests, which use a special dye to show how blood flows in the eyes
- Ordering colour fundus photography tests to image the fundus, the part of the eye that contains the retina
- Ordering optical coherence tomography to show the blood vessels in the retina
- Ordering blood tests to check for markers of inflammation if giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis) is suspected
It is important to seek immediate medical attention if you experience any sudden changes in your vision, as early treatment generally leads to the best outcomes.
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How is an eye stroke treated?
The treatment for an eye stroke depends on the type of blockage and the severity of the damage. It is important to seek medical help as soon as possible, as early treatment improves outcomes. Here are some of the treatment options:
- Medications that dissolve blood clots.
- Procedures that help move the clot away from the retina.
- Widening the arteries in the retina with an inhaled gas.
- Laser treatment to close up leaking blood vessels.
- Massaging the closed eye.
- Paracentesis, which involves using a needle to remove fluid from the eye to relieve pressure.
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which involves breathing pure oxygen in a special chamber.
- Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs, which are injected directly into the eye.
- Corticosteroids, which can be injected into the eye to reduce inflammation.
- Pan-retinal photocoagulation therapy, which may be required if new blood vessel formation occurs after an eye stroke.
In addition to these treatments, it is important to address any underlying conditions that may have contributed to the eye stroke, such as heart disease or blood vessel problems. This may include regular cholesterol and blood pressure checks, as well as lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking.
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Frequently asked questions
An eye stroke, or retinal artery occlusion, occurs when blood flow to the retina is blocked. The retina is a thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye that senses light and sends visual signals to the brain.
Symptoms of an eye stroke include sudden blurring or loss of vision, usually in one eye, as well as floaters, bleeding, and pain or pressure.
Eye strokes are typically caused by a blood clot or fatty plaque buildup in the retina, but they can also be caused by conditions that affect blood flow, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
Treatment for an eye stroke depends on the severity of the damage and the overall health of the patient. Some possible treatments include eye massage, clot-dissolving medications, and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs injected directly into the eye.