A blockage in the retina’s circulation.
The retina depends on a constant blood supply. When one of its vessels blocks, vision changes suddenly — and what happens in the following days matters.
Sudden painless loss of vision is an emergency.
If you lose vision suddenly and without pain — particularly if it feels like a curtain, or a whole section has gone — do not wait to see whether it improves. Call our office immediately during office hours. Outside office hours, go to the nearest emergency room.
A central retinal artery occlusion is a stroke of the eye. It carries the same urgency as a stroke anywhere else, and it needs evaluation of the arteries in your neck and heart as well as your eye.
BRVO — branch vein
A branch of the retinal vein blocks, and blood and fluid leak into the retina. Central vision blurs or distorts. If the blockage sits away from the centre, you may notice nothing at all.
CRVO — central vein
The main vein blocks. Vision blurs or distorts more severely, and in advanced cases abnormal vessels can grow and cause neovascular glaucoma — which is why these eyes are watched closely.
BRAO — branch artery
A branch artery blocks, typically causing sudden painless loss of part of the field, blurring, or a blind spot.
CRAO — central artery
The main artery blocks. Often caused by carotid artery disease, and known as an eye stroke. Severe vision loss, and an urgent medical workup, not only an eye problem.
Treating the eye, and the reason it happened.
Anti-VEGF injections — Eylea®, Eylea HD®, Avastin®, Lucentis® and Vabysmo® — reduce the swelling and the abnormal vessel growth that follow an occlusion. Given in our office.
Laser photocoagulation, where sealing leaking vessels or treating the underlying ischemia is the right approach.
And the cause. Occlusions are usually a sign of something systemic: blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, clotting disorders, smoking. We treat the eye and make sure the rest gets looked at, working with your primary care physician.
Seen quickly, treated properly.
If your vision changed suddenly, call us. We will get you in.