Have you ever experienced a sudden loss of vision in one eye, like a blackout? Or have you ever had small objects floating in front of your eyes, or seen lights? You may not have paid much attention to it. However, it could be a sign of an eye stroke . This is a serious condition that requires emergency medical attention. Let's talk about this in detail today, because it's very important to be aware of it.
What exactly is an 'eye stroke'?
Simply put, a 'stroke in the eye' is a sudden blockage of an artery, a blood vessel that supplies blood to the retina inside our eye. In medical terms, this is called 'Retinal Artery Occlusion' . 'Occlusion' means a blockage. Just like when a water pipe is clogged, the water stops flowing, when this small vein that carries blood to the eye is blocked, the eye does not receive the oxygen and nutrition it needs. This blockage is often caused by a blood clot .
Now you may be wondering what this retina is. The retina is like the film in a camera. When light hits the eye, it creates an image and sends a message to the brain. So if the blood supply to this area stops, it means that the cells in the retina start to get damaged, and our vision is immediately affected.
Similarly, a vein that supplies blood to the retina can become blocked. This is called 'Retinal Vein Occlusion' . This is also a condition that affects vision.
The most important thing is that this 'eye stroke' (Retinal Artery Occlusion) is a medical emergency. Therefore, it is essential to seek medical treatment as soon as symptoms appear.
Are there any types of this? How do you tell them apart?
Yes, there are several types of this stroke that affects the eye, that is, retinal artery occlusion, depending on where the blockage occurs. It's like a tree with small nicks on its trunk, branches, and limbs.
- Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO): This is the most common type. Like a tree trunk, it involves a blockage of the main artery that supplies blood to the eye. This can affect the entire eye, meaning you may lose your vision completely.
- Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion (BRAO): This occurs when a small artery, like a branch that branches off from the main artery, becomes blocked. It's like a branch on a tree. Only a part of the eye is affected. Only a part of the vision may be lost.
- Twig Retinal Artery Occlusion: This is an even smaller, twig-like blood vessel that is blocked. The effect is limited to an even smaller area.
This classification may also apply to vein occlusions.
How common is this condition?
Retinal Artery Occlusion is actually a relatively rare condition. Statistically, it is estimated that this condition occurs in one or two people in every 100,000 people per year. However, it can happen to anyone, so it is important to be aware of this.
What are the symptoms of this? How do we recognize it?
Most of the time, there is no eye pain in this condition. This is what misleads many people. The main and first symptom is a sudden loss or change in vision in one eye . These changes can occur one by one:
- Floaters, small black dots, and net-like objects floating in front of the eyes, and sudden flashes of light.
- Blurred Vision.
- Blind spots or complete darkness in front of the eyes.
- Changes in vision start small at first and gradually increase over time.
These symptoms usually only affect one eye. If you experience any of these symptoms, don't ignore them. See a doctor immediately.
Why is this happening to us? What are the reasons for this?
The main cause of an 'eye stroke' is a blockage in the blood supply to the retina. There are several ways this blockage can occur:
1. Embolism: This occurs when a blood clot, plaque, or piece of tissue from another part of the body (for example, the wall of the heart or another large artery) breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to become lodged in a small artery that supplies blood to the eye.
2. Thrombosis: This is when the blood thickens and a blood clot forms inside the artery that supplies blood to the eye.
When a blood vessel becomes blocked in this way, blood can leak through it and increase the pressure inside the eye (ocular pressure). This increased pressure can damage the optic nerve. This is also seen in a condition called glaucoma .
Who is at higher risk for this 'hearing stroke'?
The risk factors for a stroke to the eye are largely the same as those for a stroke to the brain. These include:
- For those with high blood pressure (Hypertension). This is a problem that many people in our country have.
- For people with high blood cholesterol levels (Hyperlipidemia).
- For those who have fatty deposits in their blood vessels, making them thin (atherosclerosis).
- For those with coronary artery disease.
- For those who have had a previous stroke.
- For people over the age of 60. This risk increases with age.
- For men. Research has shown that men are at slightly higher risk. However, this does not mean that women cannot develop this condition. Women can also develop this condition.
- This risk is also higher for people with diabetes mellitus , because diabetes can damage blood vessels.
- The risk is also high for smokers .
If you have one or more of these risk factors, it's a good idea to be a little careful.
How does a doctor figure out if this is really an 'ear stroke'?
As I mentioned before, if you suddenly lose all or part of your vision in one eye, it's a medical emergency . When you see a doctor, they're likely to do the following:
- You will be asked about your symptoms and your medical history.
- A complete eye exam will be performed. This includes a fundoscopy , or ophthalmoscopy , in which the doctor uses a special instrument (ophthalmoscope) and a bright light to examine the inside of your eye, especially the retina and blood vessels.
- You may be asked to have a fluorescein angiography test. This involves injecting a special dye into a vein in your arm and using a camera to take pictures of it as it travels through the blood vessels inside your eye. This can clearly show any blockages or problems with blood flow.
- Color Fundus Photography is a test that takes clear pictures of the inside of the eye (fundus), which includes the retina.
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a highly advanced test that provides detailed cross-sectional images of the blood vessels and layers of the retina.
Sometimes, if the doctor suspects another condition, such as Giant Cell Arteritis or Temporal Arteritis, they may also recommend an ultrasound , an echocardiogram (a scan of the heart), and several blood tests to look for inflammation markers in the blood.
Is there a treatment for this? What is being done?
The main goal of treating an 'eye stroke' is to restore blood flow to the retina as quickly as possible, minimizing vision loss. Treatment options depend on how long it has been since symptoms first appeared and the nature of the blockage. Some treatment options include:
- Medications to reduce pressure inside the eye or to dissolve blood clots.
- Laser treatment to close leaking blood vessels.
- Gently massaging the eyelid with the eye closed. This may help move the blood clot and clear the blockage.
- Paracentesis: In this procedure, the doctor uses a very fine needle to remove a small amount of fluid from inside the eye. This can help reduce the pressure inside the eye immediately.
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: In this, the patient is placed in a special chamber and made to breathe pure oxygen under high pressure. This is done to increase the supply of oxygen to the retina.
But remember, to get the most out of these treatments, you need to start treatment as soon as symptoms appear, within a few hours. Time is of the essence here.
Can we do anything to reduce this risk?
While it's impossible to prevent it completely, there are a few things we can do to reduce the risk of a 'hearing stroke'. These are often good for our overall health:
- Eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise. Eating more vegetables, fruits, and greens, and reducing oil, sugar, and salt are very good.
- If you have diabetes, it is important to control your blood sugar levels well.
- Keep blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and eye pressure at the proper levels. Use the medications prescribed by your doctor.
- Visit an eye doctor at regular intervals to have your eyes checked, especially if you have risk factors.
- If you smoke, quit. This risk is much higher because of the damage smoking does to blood vessels.
Following these things will not only help protect you from a 'hearing stroke', but will also help protect you from many other diseases, such as heart disease and stroke.
What happens after this situation? What should we expect?
The damage caused by an 'in-ear stroke' can vary from person to person. It depends on where the blockage occurred, how long the blood supply was cut off, and how quickly treatment is started.
If it is a branch (BRAO) or twig (Twig) retinal artery occlusion, which is a blockage of a small vein, the damage may be relatively minor. However, if it is a central (CRAO) , which is a blockage of the main artery, the damage may be greater.
Even after treatment, some people may still have some degree of vision loss. Sometimes vision may not fully recover. That's why it's taken so seriously.
Another important thing is that a 'stroke that comes to mind' can be a sign that you are also at risk of having a brain stroke . This is because the risk factors for both conditions are very similar. Therefore, if you experience a 'stroke that comes to mind', it is important to talk to your doctor about it and take the necessary steps to prevent a brain stroke.
When should we definitely seek medical advice?
This much is clear: If you experience sudden loss, dimness, or blurring of vision in one eye, seek medical attention immediately. 'Ocular strokes' almost always affect only one eye.
Sometimes vision can be temporarily lost and then restored. This is called a 'mini-stroke in the eye' . Even if you experience temporary vision loss, don't ignore it. Treat it as an emergency and see a doctor.
Losing your vision, whether temporary or permanent, can be a frightening experience. However, it is important to seek medical attention quickly, especially if you have a change in vision in just one eye. Just like with a stroke to the brain, early treatment is the best way to get better results from a stroke to the eye.
In summary, here are the things we need to remember (Take-Home Message):
Okay, so let's recap the most important points we discussed today about 'Eye Stroke / Retinal Artery Occlusion':
- This is a medical emergency. See a doctor as soon as you experience symptoms.
- The main symptom is sudden loss, blurring, or loss of vision in one eye. It is often painless.
- Things like high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, heart disease, and smoking increase the risk.
- Prompt treatment can reduce vision damage.
- The risk of this condition can be reduced by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and controlling risk factors.
Your eyes are a very valuable asset. So take care of them. I hope this information is useful to you. Wishing you and your loved ones good health!
` Eye Stroke, Retinal Artery Occlusion, Blockage of the blood vessels in the eye, Vision loss, Eye diseases, Retina, Eye Stroke, Retinal Artery Occlusion
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