Stroke of the eye

Definition

Stroke of the eye is similar to the better-known stroke of the brain. In both cases, blood circulation is interrupted. In a stroke, an artery is blocked, often by a clot, or damaged. The area that the blood vessel is supposed to reach is then poorly irrigated and therefore poorly oxygenated. Depending on the location of the artery, a stroke of the eye may affect either the retina or the optic nerve. These two cases are therefore different, and the treatment and consequences are specific. The risk factors for stroke of the eye are high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and age. Those affected are often over 55.

 

Symptoms
 

Stroke of the eye causes visual impairment without pain or redness. What distinguishes it from other eye diseases is the sudden loss of vision in one eye. When faced with this symptom, you need to react quickly. Stroke of the eye is a medical emergency. If a sudden onset of visual impairment occurs, you should not wait and hope that your eye and vision will recover. On the contrary, urgent consultation with an ophthalmologist is essential. Rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke not only increases the chances of recovering some of your vision, but also reduces the risk of recurrence.
 

Treatment

In the event of a stroke affecting the retina, emergency treatment in a specialist hospital is required to dissolve the clot blocking the artery. The sooner this is done (ideally within four hours), the better the chances of visual recovery. However, there is no treatment for strokes affecting the optic nerve. The aim of treatment is to control risk factors in order, in particular, to protect the other eye. It also detects the presence of Horton's disease, an inflammation of the arteries that can cause this type of stroke. If it is confirmed, treatment with corticosteroids should be started the same day to protect the unaffected eye.

Source : CUSM