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A stroke is a brain attack that occurs when the blood that brings oxygen to the brain stops flowing, causing brain cells to die. Depending on the location and extent of the brain tissue affected, a stroke can lead to various vision issues, including partial or complete vision loss. While eye colour change is not a direct symptom of a stroke, a stroke can cause visual hallucinations, where one may experience perceptions of things that are not real. This may include changes in the way one perceives colour. However, it is important to note that this is not a common occurrence, and there is no scientific evidence directly linking massive strokes to eye colour change.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Eye colour change | No evidence found |
Vision loss | Partial or complete loss of vision in one or both eyes |
Vision changes | Floaters, flashes, blind spots, blurred vision, double vision, hallucinations, loss of colour vision |
Treatment | Medication, laser treatment, eye massage, paracentesis, hyperbaric oxygen therapy |
What You'll Learn
Can a stroke cause colour blindness?
A stroke can cause significant changes in vision, depending on its size and location. While a stroke rarely causes complete vision loss in both eyes, it can lead to partial or complete loss of vision in one eye. A rare condition called achromatopsia, or loss of colour vision, can result from a stroke. This condition causes objects to appear in shades of black, white, or grey. It is caused by damage to several parts of the brain or by a genetic defect.
Achromatopsia is a type of colour blindness caused by damage to the cerebral cortex of the brain, rather than abnormalities in the cells of the retina. It is often confused with congenital achromatopsia, but the underlying physiological deficits of the two disorders are distinct. Cerebral achromatopsia is typically the result of injury or illness, such as a stroke. It is characterised by a sudden onset of colour vision loss following a severe head injury or damage to the occipital lobe.
The severity and size of the visual field affected by cerebral achromatopsia vary from patient to patient. In some cases, the location of colour vision loss can be restricted to one hemisphere or one quarter of the visual field. This condition can be diagnosed through colour vision tests such as the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test or the Ishihara plate test. However, almost 50% of patients diagnosed with cerebral achromatopsia perform normally on the colour-naming test.
In addition to achromatopsia, strokes can cause other vision problems such as double vision, blurred vision, visual field cuts, and visual hallucinations. These issues can arise due to damage to various regions of the brain that control vision, including the temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, brain stem, and cerebellum.
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What is an eye stroke?
An eye stroke, or retinal artery occlusion, occurs when something blocks an artery that supplies blood to the retina. The medical name for an eye stroke is "retinal artery occlusion", with ""occlusion" meaning "blockage". The blockage is often a blood clot, but can also be caused by a build-up of plaque or infection that breaks off from another part of the body.
The blood vessels in the body are responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients to every body part. When the blood supply is cut off and can no longer reach a specific body part, a stroke can occur, leading to significant damage. When a stroke occurs in the eye, the retina is primarily affected. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that transfers visual information to the brain for interpretation and processing, thus enabling us to see images clearly.
There are different types of eye strokes, including:
- Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO): This occurs when the blockage is located in the retina's central artery.
- Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO): This occurs when the blockage is located within the retina's smaller branch arteries.
- Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO): This occurs when the blockage is located in the main central retinal vein.
- Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO): This occurs when the blockage is located within one of the smaller retinal branch veins.
Eye stroke symptoms can come on suddenly, or develop gradually over the course of a few hours or even days. The distinguishing symptom of an eye stroke is that it typically occurs in only one eye.
While it isn’t always possible to determine the cause of an eye stroke, researchers believe that certain factors and health conditions can increase the risk. These include older age (above 60), cardiovascular disease, and narrowing of the artery in the neck (carotid artery disease).
Eye strokes are a medical emergency. If you experience any symptoms of an eye stroke, it is important to contact an eye doctor immediately.
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What are the symptoms of an eye stroke?
An eye stroke, or retinal artery occlusion, occurs when there is a blockage in the artery that supplies blood to the retina. The hallmark signs of an eye stroke are sudden and painless vision loss or changes in vision in one eye. However, it is important to note that eye strokes almost always affect just one eye.
- Floaters: Small gray spots floating around in the field of vision.
- Blurred vision: Vision may steadily worsen on one side or in the entire field of vision.
- Vision loss: This can occur gradually or suddenly, and it can range from subtle to severe.
- Pain or pressure: Although eye strokes are typically painless, severe cases may cause localized pressure or discomfort in the affected eye.
- Bleeding: The retina may appear red or have blood spots throughout.
- Partial or complete central vision loss: This may manifest as a black curtain coming down in front of the eye. The retina may appear pale and have a cherry red spot.
- Darkened area in the field of vision: There may be blind spots or darkness in the field of vision.
- Decreased visual contrast and light sensitivity.
It is important to note that the symptoms of an eye stroke can develop slowly over hours or days, or they may come on suddenly. The speed at which symptoms appear will depend on which blood vessel is obstructed and the type of eye stroke, such as Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO), Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO), or Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO). CRAO is typically the most severe of these types and often leads to more severe symptoms and central vision loss.
If you suspect you or someone else is experiencing an eye stroke, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention. Eye strokes are medical emergencies, and early treatment improves outcomes.
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What causes 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, but can also be caused by a build-up of plaque, or an infection that breaks off from another part of the body, such as the heart or another artery. This type of blockage is called an embolism.
The retina is the thin film that lines the inner surface of the back of the eye. It sends light signals to the brain, which then perceives these signals as images. When blood flow to the retina is blocked, fluid can leak into the eye, causing swelling and preventing oxygen from circulating. This, in turn, impacts your ability to see.
There are three types of retinal artery occlusion:
- Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO): a blockage in the main artery in the eye
- Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO): a blockage in one of the smaller arteries in the eye
- Twig retinal artery occlusion: a blockage in an even smaller blood vessel
The risk factors for an eye stroke are similar to those for a stroke. These include:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- A build-up of plaque in the blood vessels
- Coronary artery disease
- A previous stroke
- Being older than 60
- Being male
- Diabetes
- Clotting disorders, such as sickle cell disease
- Carotid artery disease
- Abnormal heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation
- Vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessel wall
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How is an eye stroke treated?
An eye stroke, or retinal artery occlusion, occurs when something blocks an artery that supplies blood to the retina. This blockage is often a blood clot, but can also be caused by an infection or plaque that has broken off from another part of the body. Eye strokes are medical emergencies and can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated.
Treatment for an eye stroke should be given as soon as possible to help minimise damage to the retina. Treatments include:
- Medications to reduce pressure in the eye or to dissolve blood clots
- A procedure that helps move the clot away from the retina
- Laser treatment to close up leaking blood vessels
- Widening the arteries in the retina with an inhaled gas
- Paracentesis, which involves using a needle to take fluid from the eye to relieve pressure
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which involves breathing pure oxygen in a special chamber
- Massaging the closed eye
In the long term, people may also need follow-up care to treat heart disease or blood vessel problems that may have contributed to the eye stroke. This can include regular cholesterol and blood pressure checks, as well as addressing other risk factors such as family history, diet, and lifestyle.
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Frequently asked questions
No, strokes do not cause eye colour change. However, they can cause significant changes in vision, including partial or complete vision loss, double vision, blurred vision, and visual hallucinations.
An eye stroke, or retinal artery occlusion, occurs when something blocks an artery that supplies blood to the retina, interrupting the blood flow to the eye.
Symptoms of an eye stroke include floaters, blurred vision, vision loss, pain or pressure, and bleeding in the affected eye.
If you think you're having an eye stroke, seek immediate medical help. Eye strokes are a medical emergency and can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated.