Eye Strokes Can Happen Suddenly, Here's How To Prevent It

Illustration of eye stroke. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Stroke is usually known as a disorder in the brain. But did you know a stroke can also occur in the eyes? This condition is called an eye stroke or retinal artery occlusion, which is when blood flow to the retina stops due to blockage of blood vessels.

Retina is part of the eye that is tasked with capturing light and sending signals to the brain to shape images. If blood flow is disturbed, the retina cannot work and vision can disappear suddenly.

The problem is that eye stroke often appears without pain, so many people do not realize this condition and are late in receiving treatment. Even though eye stroke is a medical emergency that must be treated immediately to prevent permanent blindness.

Reporting from the Cleveland Clinic page, blockages in retinal blood vessels can occur because:

- Blood clots (trombosis) formed due to blood clots.

- Emboli is plaque debris or cholesterol that escapes the blood vessels or the heart then clogs the vessels in the eyes.

- This bridge causes the retina to lack oxygen. The longer the retina does not get blood intake, the greater the risk of permanent damage.

Eye strokes often appear in people with certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease or blood vessels, previous history of stroke, active smokers, to over 60 years of age. However, anyone is still at risk if the lifestyle is unhealthy.

Symptoms To Watch Out For

Eye strokes are usually not painful, but the symptoms are very clear.

- The vision suddenly runs away in one eye

- Views like a dark shadow closed

- Black spots appear or flash of light

- The loss of part or all vision in seconds.

If the vision returns a few moments later, don't ignore it. These symptoms can be a sign of a stroke in the eyes.

Early Handling

The sooner the eye stroke is handled, the greater the chance of vision being saved. Handling can include:

- Drugs to dissolve blood clots

- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

- Lowering eye pressure with certain drugs or medical measures

- Laser therapy in damaged blood vessels.

Don't wait for symptoms to improve on your own. The best time for treatment is in a few hours after symptoms appear. The good news is, eye stroke can be prevented by maintaining the health of blood vessels. Efforts can be made:

- Control of blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol

- Expand healthy foods such as vegetables, fruit, and fish

- Regular exercise

- Quit smoking

- Regular eye tests, especially for people with chronic diseases