Know the Signs and Risk Factors of Eye Stroke
Would you recognize the signs of an eye stroke? If one hits, you may have precious little time to restore your vision. It’s important to know the risk factors and symptoms of this seemingly tiny emergency, which is sometimes a warning sign of something far more dangerous ahead.
An eye stroke can hit without warning, causing blind spots, shadows or even total blindness in one eye. People with cardiovascular disease, lupus patients and individuals taking blood pressure medications or Viagra have an even higher risk than the general population. Doctors in China are seeing increases in eye stroke due to smartphone overuse, particularly when people use their phones in the dark. There are a few treatment options, including corticosteroids and other medications that may restore proper circulation, but there’s a short window for treatment and prognosis is typically poor. Let's look at the details.
Symptoms of Eye Stroke
Eye strokes strike without warning, and are usually painless, with most sufferers waking to a change in vision. The damage may appear as a dark spot or a shadow, or the person might suddenly experience total blindness in one eye. Some people notice they are less able to perceive contrast or find they have increased light sensitivity. The damage is almost always restricted to one eye.
Know the Causes and Risk Factors
An eye stroke occurs when the blood supply to the optic nerve gets cut off. This can happen because of a blood clot, but it’s usually due to changes in blood and eye pressure that affect circulation. The severity of symptoms can vary depending on where the damage hits.
The threat of having an eye stroke increases with age. Cardiovascular disease patients and people on blood pressure medications are at an even higher risk. Patients who take erectile dysfunction (ED) medication such as Viagra may tip the odds even further. Some people have structural issues that can affect circulation in the optic disk, making strokes more likely. A small percentage of people who suffer from lupus may have issues with the blood vessels that feed the retina, which can also lead to eye stroke.
But we've also recently learned that a smartphone may also increase the risks. According to the South China Morning Post, doctors are seeing an increasing number of people having eye strokes resulting from staring at their smartphones too much. The potential for problems appears to be higher if you’re staring at a bright screen in a dark room.
What to Do if Eye Stroke is Suspected
See a doctor immediately if symptoms seem to correlate to an eye stroke; if it’s not treated within hours of symptom onset, the damage may be permanent. Even with treatment, the prognosis often isn’t good—but there are options, so it's best to be seen.
Doctors may increase the chances of recovery by administering an anti-clotting medication, removing fluid from the eye or having he patient breathe a mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen that causes the arteries in the retina to dilate. Corticosteroids may also be of some benefit.
Eye strokes might not be as common as those that occur in the brain, but they can be just as devastating and too few understand the signs. Moreover, eye strokes can be a warning sign of larger, deadlier strokes to come, so they warrant deeper investigation even if they are mild. Never ignore any sudden change in vision, and teach those around you now that you know more, so we can all be better able to protect ourselves.
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