Do you know what an eye stroke is? Knowing the underlying causes and symptoms can help identify if you or a loved one is having one! Read on to learn more about this eye condition, and what to do about it.
“I have no vision in one of my eyes!”
Like the heart, the eyes can also suffer from blockages, stopping blood flow to the retina. The medical community refers to this as Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO), but it is more commonly known as an eye stroke. As certain underlying conditions can leave you more prone to suffering from an eye stroke. Being aware of these underlying causes can aid in prevention. Prevention is the best case scenario when it comes to your eyes.
Several underlying health conditions can increase your chances of suffering an eye stroke. This include:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Narrowing of the carotid artery or neck artery
Patients with any of these conditions should make sure their eye doctor is aware of them. In addition, it is also important regular eye exams are not missed. Remember, many eye conditions/diseases have little to no symptoms and are therefore only found during a routine ocular exam. So, being proactive and keeping these underlying conditions in check can ensure the risk for an eye stroke is kept low.
Sudden, painless vision loss in one eye may mean you are experiencing an eye stroke. Because blood is not flowing to the retina, your vision is in essence halted without the necessary nutrients and oxygen. If you think you are experiencing an eye stroke, go to your local Victoria eye doctor immediately. Ensure to tell the front desk staff that you’re having an eye emergency, so you can be treated on a priority basis.
Eye Stroke Treatment
An ophthalmologist may recommend trying the following methods:
- Ocular massage following an inhalation of carbon dioxide oxygen
- Medication to try and decrease eye pressure
- Surgical procedure
Since an eye stroke is an eye emergency, time is of the essence. If you see an eye specialist within 24 hours of the stroke, your vision may be partially restored. However, unfortunately, without blood flow to the eye, severe vision loss is usually suffered by those who experience an eye stroke. So don’t delay seeing your optometrist!
We are your local Victoria eye doctors – helping you see your very best!