Eye Stroke: Types, Symptoms, and Risk Factors

How Common is an Eye Stroke?

An eye stroke is an uncommon condition that mainly occurs in people over the age of 40, smokers, and people at risk of diabetes. Eye strokes such as retinal vein occlusion occur in approximately 1 to 2% of people over 40, according to the Macular Disease Foundation of Australia, an organization that monitors and studies the impact of macular diseases.

1. Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO)

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) refers to a type of eye stroke where the blood flow of the main artery to the retina is being blocked by certain conditions. Central retinal artery occlusion is typically what causes total vision loss from an eye stroke. Central retinal artery occlusion is diagnosed through a dilated eye test as well as other eye tests, such as a slit lamp test with fundoscopy.

2. Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion (BRAO)

Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) refers to a type of eye stroke where there is a blockage in the blood flow of one of the smaller arteries to the retina. Branch retinal artery occlusion will cause many of the same symptoms as central retinal artery occlusion. Branch retinal artery occlusion is diagnosed through many forms of eye tests, such as a dilated eye test, a slit lamp test, or through fluorescein angiography.

3. Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO)

Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) refers to a type of eye stroke where a blood clot is obstructing the main vein of the retina, possibly causing a leaking of blood to the retina as well. Central retinal vein occlusion is diagnosed through the use of tests such as fluorescein angiography.

4. Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO)

Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) refers to a type of eye stroke where a blood clot is causing a blockage in the smaller veins of the retina, possibly causing an additional spilling of blood and other fluids. These fluids may create swelling in the macula. Branch retinal vein occlusion is diagnosed through the use of a dilated eye test, and through other tests such as optical coherence tomography.

1. Loss of Vision

Loss of vision refers to either the slow or sudden loss of all sight in one or both eyes. Loss of vision becomes a potential symptom of eye stroke due to eye conditions causing a blockage of the blood flow to the retina, preventing the retina from functioning properly or receiving light, possibly causing blindness.

2. Blurry Vision

Blurry vision refers to a person's sight becoming blurry, hazy, or unable to focus on near or far distances. Blurry vision becomes a potential symptom of eye stroke due to the obstruction of the blood flow to the retina affecting general vision abilities and interfering with eye functions.

3. Missing Spots of Vision

Missing spots of vision refers to the eyes having a consistent patch or patches of vision that they can no longer see through. Missing spots of vision may become a symptom of eye stroke due to blood clotting or other obstructions affecting the flow of blood to the macula, reducing the eyes’ ability to see.

4. Sudden Onset of Floaters

Sudden onset of eye floaters refers to small spots suddenly appearing in a person's vision, or for there to be more spots, floaters, shapes, or strings than there usually are. Sudden onset of floaters are a possible symptom of eye stroke due to the retina of the eye being affected by the blocked blood flow.

When Do Eye Stroke Symptoms Usually Occur?

Eye stroke symptoms usually occur or are most notable when a person is waking up during the morning and may notice vision issues, blindness, or other symptoms of an eye stroke, according to Penn Medicine, an American university connected to Pennsylvania hospital.

If you believe you are having symptoms of an eye stroke, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.

What are the Risk Factors of Eye Stroke?

The potential risk factors of eye stroke are high blood pressure, age, smoking, and diabetes. The possible risk factors for eye stroke are listed below.

• High blood pressure: High blood pressure may be a risk factor of eye stroke because it may affect the flow of blood to the retina, as well as prevent vital nutrients and oxygen from reaching the eye, causing possible nerve damage and vision loss.
• Age: Age is a possible risk factor of eye stroke because as a person grows older they are more at risk of cardiovascular diseases that can cause eye strokes and other conditions.
• Smoking: Smoking may be a risk factor of eye stroke because smoking can restrict the flow of blood and oxygen throughout the body.
• Diabetes: Diabetes is a potential risk factor of eye stroke because diabetes and similar conditions are linked to higher levels of blood pressure in the eyes, according to the American Diabetes Association, an American Organization of over 12000 health care professionals.

What are the Eye Stroke Complications?

Eye stroke complications may include neovascularization, macula inflammation, and blindness. The following are possible complications of an eye stroke.

• Neovascularization: Neovascularization is a pathologic condition where new blood vessels are formed in the eye. Neovascularization is a potential complication of eye stroke because certain types of eye stroke, such as central retinal artery occlusion, may cause damage to the existing blood vessels, causing neovascularization.
• Macula inflammation: Macula inflammation, also known as macula edema, is an eye condition where blood is leaking into the macula of the eye and retina. Macula inflammation may become a complication of eye stroke because blood clots or clogged arteries could possibly cause a leakage of blood into the macula.
• Blindness: Blindness is an eye condition where the eyes completely lose the ability to see. An eye stroke can cause varying levels of blindness in the affected eye. Blindness is a potential complication of eye stroke because, without treatment, there is a possibility that an eye that has had a stroke may not fully recover its sight.

How is an Eye Stroke Diagnosed?

An eye stroke is diagnosed by a medical professional using multiple different types of tests in order to examine the eyes for signs of an eye stroke. Tests to diagnose an eye stroke may include a dilated eye test, where the medical professional will dilate the eyes to examine them better, a slit lamp test to examine the eyes at a microscopic level, or fluorescein angiography, where fluorescent dye is used in conjunction with a special camera to examine the eyes flow of blood.

1. Surgery

Surgery refers to any form of invasive surgical procedure that is used to treat the eye. Surgery, specifically laser treatment, may be used to treat an eye stroke by dissolving blood clots and sealing leaking blood vessels.

Please seek a professional's diagnosis and prescriptions before treating any form of eye stroke on your own.

2. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy refers to a treatment where a patient is placed in a sealed machine that provides pure oxygen and increases air pressure. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a relatively new suggested treatment for central retinal artery occlusion. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may potentially treat an eye stroke by providing oxygenation to the retinal arteries, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Please seek a professional's diagnosis and prescriptions before treating any form of eye stroke on your own.

3. Intravitreal Injections

Intravitreal injections refers to a treatment involving direct injections into the vitreous body of the eye. Intravitreal injection treats eye stroke by enabling a health professional to directly administer medication into the eye.

Please seek a professional's diagnosis and prescriptions before treating any form of eye stroke on your own.

Do Eye Strokes Have the Ability to Recover on Their Own?

An eye stroke may be able to resolve itself on its own. However, patients who have had an eye stroke may recover some of their visual skills for a time, but within six months of the eye stroke, visual ability may be lost, according to research from the University of Rochester.

Does Eating a Healthy and Balanced Diet Prevent Eye Stroke?

Eating a healthy and balanced diet may be able to prevent an eye stroke by possibly reducing the likelihood of the arteries clogging or by potentially reducing cholesterol issues in the body, making the formation of blood clots less of a possibility.

How Long Will Eye Stroke Last?

The length an eye stroke lasts may vary depending on the multiple factors, such as the type of eye stroke and other conditions. The aftereffects of an eye stroke may last indefinitely if a professional diagnosis is not sought.

What Can Be the Outcome of Experiencing an Eye Stroke?

The outcome of experiencing an eye stroke may include vision improvement, partial vision loss, total vision loss, recurrent eye stroke, neovascularization, photophobia, and diplopia. The following may be possible outcomes of experiencing an eye stroke.

• Vision improvement: Vision improvement refers to vision recovering after an eye stroke. Vision improvement may be experienced during the recovery of an eye stroke, but not from the eye stroke itself.
• Partial vision loss: Partial vision loss can be a potential outcome of experiencing an eye stroke because branch retinal artery occlusion or other conditions caused by an eye stroke may still be affecting the eyes.
• Total vision loss: Total vision loss is a possible outcome of experiencing an eye stroke because central retinal artery occlusion or other major conditions caused by an eye stroke may still be affecting the eyes.
• Recurrent eye stroke: Recurrent eye stroke may be a possible outcome of experiencing an eye stroke because the causes of conditions that caused an initial eye stroke may not have been treated, creating a risk that another eye stroke may occur.
• Neovascularization: Neovascularization is potentially an outcome of experiencing an eye stroke because an eye stroke may have caused damage to the eyes’ blood vessels.
• Photophobia: Photophobia may be a possible outcome of experiencing an eye stroke because the retina of the eye may become more sensitive and less well functioning after the eye has experienced an eye stroke.
• Diplopia: Diplopia, also known as double vision, may possibly be an outcome of experiencing an eye stroke because diplopia can sometimes occur when vision is hazy or blurred in one eye, which is a common symptom of an eye stroke.

1. Vision Improvement

Vision improvement refers to a person's vision recovering after an eye stroke. Vision improvement may possibly be experienced after the event of an eye stroke, but vision improvement will not occur from the eye stroke itself. Without proper treatment or diagnosis, vision may never fully recover or be at the same level it once was before the stroke.

2. Partial Vision Loss

Partial vision loss refers to a person seeing the world blurry, hazy, or having dark areas or shadows in parts of their visual field. Partial vision loss is potentially an outcome of experiencing an eye stroke because the eye’s general functionality may become compromised during an eye stroke. Partial vision loss in one eye is more common in cases of branch retinal artery occlusion and branch retinal vein occlusion.

3. Total Vision Loss

Total vision loss refers to a person completely losing all vision skills or the ability to see at all in one eye. Total vision loss is a possible outcome of experiencing an eye stroke because the lack of blood and oxygen an eye stroke may cause, may also completely disable an eye's ability to see. Total vision loss in one eye is more common in cases of central retinal artery occlusion and central retinal vein occlusion.

4. Recurrent Eye Stroke

Recurrent eye stroke refers to the probability that a person who has already had an eye stroke may have another one at a different point in time, either in their lifetime or shortly after the first eye stroke. Recurrent eye stroke is a potential outcome of experiencing an eye stroke because the conditions and causes of the initial eye stroke may not have been addressed or successfully treated, which could result in further issues with the blood vessels of the eye.

5. Neovascularization

Neovascularization, specifically neovascularization of the eye, refers to a pathologic condition where new blood vessels are formed in the cornea of the eye. These new blood vessels are invasive and may affect visual abilities and cause inflammation. Neovascularization may be a potential outcome of experiencing an eye stroke because the eye stroke may have damaged the older blood vessels, causing the body to create new ones.

6. Photophobia

Photophobia, or light sensitivity, refers to a condition where the eyes are sensitive or feel pain when they perceive bright or mild lights and reflections. Photophobia may be an outcome of experiencing an eye stroke because damage to the retina may cause it to become more sensitive to light sources.

7. Diplopia

Diplopia, also known as double vision, is an eye condition where a person's vision is unfocused, resulting in the eyes seeing two split versions of the same object or subject of focus. Diplopia is a potential outcome of experiencing an eye stroke because damage to the eyes or conditions that affect the eyes’ ability to fully function may result in double vision. Diplopia may also occur as a possible result of hazy or blurry vision, a common symptom of many types of an eye stroke.

Are Eye Strokes Curable?

Eye strokes might be prevented through lifestyle changes, regular visits to a doctor or other type of health professional, and by monitoring existing conditions that cause a risk of eye strokes, such as hypertension or diabetes.

Can a Brain Stroke Result from an Eye Stroke?

A brain stroke cannot directly result from an eye stroke, but a person who has experienced an eye stroke may be at an increased risk of a brain stroke because the brain and eyes share the same circulation and the issues and blockage that caused an eye stroke may also occur in the blood flow of the brain.

Are Eye Strokes the Same as Regular Strokes?

Eye strokes are similar to brain strokes in that both conditions are caused by a lack of blood flow or interference in the arteries and veins that provide oxygen and vital nutrients. A stroke is a general classification for conditions that affect blood flow and vital arteries and veins.