Stroke refers to an acute loss of blood supply to any portion of the brain, resulting in irreversible brain damage and loss of bodily functions controlled by that part of the brain.
The eye is connected to the brain by the optic nerve, which directly comes from the brain.
An eye stroke occurs when a clot forms in a small blood vessel within the eye. The interruption of blood flow destroys the retina, the light-sensitive nerve layer that captures images.
The attack is sudden, painless, but can cause partial or complete vision loss in one eye. The other eye is usually unaffected.
“What concerns me is that I am seeing more patients with eye stroke who are younger than 50 years old. This suggests that the general well beings of the population in terms if blood pressure control, high cholesterol levels, and diabetes incidence, is getting worst rather than better” (Dr Fong).
Source: Dr Fong Choong Sian and Goo Chui Hoong (2011), “When stroke hits the eye”, Star Fit for Life, Sunday Star, 13 November 2011).