Many people think that strokes only occur in the brain. In fact, strokes can also attack the eyes. One of the causes of eye stroke is blockage of blood vessels leading to the retina. There are several types of stroke that commonly attack the eye, and one of them is central retinal occlusion.
Just like strokes in general, eye strokes are caused by blockage or rupture of blood vessels leading to the eye. This condition reduces the blood supply to the retina, causing vision problems and even blindness.
Getting to Know the Common Types of Strokes Attacking the Eyes
Based on the location of the blocked blood vessel, eye stroke can be divided into several types, namely:
Occlusioncentral retina
This type of eye stroke occurs due to a blockage in the main blood vessel leading to the eye nerve. This condition causes the nerves of the eye to not get a blood supply.
Most cases of eye stroke due to central retinal occlusion go unnoticed because it does not cause any symptoms beforehand, and can cause immediate loss of vision.
When central retinal occlusion occurs, complaints and visual disturbances will occur in the form of:
- A sudden decrease in the ability to see in one eye.
- Vision becomes blurred in one eye suddenly.
- Decreased ability to see, for several weeks.
In eye stroke due to central retinal occlusion, treatment should be initiated immediately. This aims to prevent permanent nerve damage that will lead to blindness.
Branch retinal occlusion
This type of eye stroke occurs when the blockage is only in one of the branches of the blood vessels leading to the retina. This blockage causes part of the retina to experience a lack of blood and oxygen, resulting in sudden visual disturbances.
Visual disturbances that occur during a branch retinal occlusion eye stroke can include:
- A dim view (floaters).
- Loss of some ability to see.
- The ability to see can be lost completely or only at the edges.
Generally, treatment for a branch retinal occlusion eye stroke aims to prevent permanent loss of vision. Therefore, doctors can provide treatment in the form of drug therapy or laser surgery.
Giant cell arteritis (GCA)
Other eye strokes are caused by giant cell arthritis (giant cell arteritis (GCA). Giant cell arteritis is a condition in which the lining of the arteries becomes inflamed and swollen, reducing the supply of blood throughout the body. Although it can occur in arteries in any part of the body, this condition is more common in arteries in the temples.
In the eyes, this condition can cause complaints in the form of blurred vision or even permanent blindness in one eye.
Because it can attack other arteries in the body, GCA can also cause common complaints such as fever, dizziness, fatigue, joint stiffness, muscle aches, pain in the jaw when chewing or speaking, and sudden weight loss.
Disease giant cell arteritis should get treatment immediately. Otherwise, the condition can lead to permanent blindness.
The three types of strokes that attack the eyes above need to be watched out for. Especially if you have diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, heart disease, and glaucoma. Immediately consult an eye doctor if you experience the symptoms described above, so that they can be treated as soon as possible.
