- What is a stroke in the eye?
- What are the causes?
- How do you recognize it?
- Who is at risk?
- What can you do about it?
The second most common retinal vascular disease is retinal vein occlusion, also called stroke in the eye. How can you prevent it and what to do if it occurs? Is there a cure?
Stroke in the eye: causes and symptoms
In the eye there is only one artery that carries blood and one vein that carries it out. It will now be this vein blocked, the blood cannot flow out. It spreads to the retina. However, as blood continues to flow in, there is a massive, bleeding thickening of the retina. The problem: It’s usually not painful. Often you only notice one deterioration visual acuity or visual field is limited. Vein occlusion leads to a lack of oxygen in the optic nerve tissue. Subsequently die the neurons of the optic nerve, the connection between the eye and the brain. These cells cannot regenerate. If left untreated, this can lead to blindness within a few months.
The exact causes are not yet clarified. But the risk factors are essentially the same as those for a stroke: high blood pressure, diabetes or high blood lipid levels. But others too factors could be the cause:
- eye trauma
- 40 years and over
- To smoke
- The birth control pill
- Disease of the carotids (carotid arteries)
- kidney disease
- inflammation of blood vessels
- pregnancy
The following symptoms may indicate an eye infarction:
- Total or partial loss of vision
- Patients are unable to see with their own eyes
- Blurred or distorted vision
- Blind spots in the field of vision
It happens that vision returns when it was just a slight block. However, in any case, here a doctor or nurse look for a possible permanent damage avoid.
The most common form is the Papillary infarction. It is a circulatory disorder, such as a venous blockage, which affects women more often than men, and most patients are over 50. The causes here are vascular inflammation (giant cell arteritis) or vascular calcification. Symptoms are often severe headaches, usually occurring on both sides. Excessive and painful hypersensitivity of the scalp or pain in the tongue when chewing is also observed here. The condition deteriorates very quickly, resulting in double vision and loss of facial features. Pain in the upper shoulder area and in the neck or hip area is also reported in about half of the patients. However, the eye itself remains painless.
The diagnosis and what to do
For complaints or acute vision loss it is important to consult an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. This person then makes the diagnosis. First of all, the story is important. Which diseases are classified as at risk? What other factors are there? The pupils are opened with eye drops and checked with an ophthalmoscope blocks or wanted bleeding. Further investigations:
- visual field measurement: Are there any interruptions or limitations?
- slit lamp: A stereoscopic study of the eyes.
- Fluoreszin-Angiography: A dye is injected into the arm, which spreads into the bloodstream. Once in the retina, a special camera can be used to determine if and which blood vessels are blocked.
- Optical coherence tomography: The retina is expanded with drops and then the eyes are scanned. This creates a detailed image.
Tests may also be done to look for other causes that may be elsewhere in the body.
As with a “classic” shot, speed is of the essence here too. If the blockage can be cleared within approx. 100 minutes removed, permanent damage can be avoided. After four hours without treatment, your vision is likely to be permanently damaged. But how is it taken care of?
- eye massage: The eye is massaged through the closed eyelid to remove the clot.
- carbon dioxide oxygen: A mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen is inhaled. This dilates the arteries and increases blood flow to the retina.
- Paracentesis: A small needle is used to draw a few drops of fluid from the front of the eye, reducing pressure and increasing blood flow to the retina.
- drug: The blood clot can be removed and the pressure in the eye lowered by the administration of drugs.
what can prevention be made? Only about 10% of all those affected are under the age of 45. A stroke usually occurs due to another medical problem, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Therefore, adjust check the only way to reduce the risk.
