Definition
For many, the frightening diagnosis of stroke in the head is well known. But many people do not know that a stroke in the eye can also occur. A stroke in the eye is the sudden closure of a vein in the eye. It is called retinal vein occlusion. Both older and younger people can be affected.
Causes
Like other organs, the eye is supplied with blood. For this purpose, an artery leads the oxygen-rich blood into the eye and a vein leads the oxygen-poor blood out again. In the event of a stroke, the blood-carrying vein is blocked.
It is often closed by a thrombus. This is a collection of various components such as calcium and blood components. These thrombi can form in the blood system on damaged artery or vein walls.
They are the result of arteriosclerosis. Patients who are overweight, have high blood pressure and cholesterol levels and lack exercise are among the risk patients who are more likely to have calcifications in the arteries. Patients who have been suffering from diabetes mellitus for a longer period of time may also suffer thrombi and injuries to vascular walls due to increasing damage to the vessels.
There is a possibility that the thrombi may become detached and flushed into other blood systems, including the eye. The stenosis (occlusion) may also have formed directly in the vein. Now the blood can no longer flow off and accumulates in the eye.
The congested blood is then distributed to the individual layers of the eye. This also affects the retina. Finally, after a short time, the retina thickens up with blood. Since the retina is important for vision, there is a risk that it will be damaged due to the increase in internal pressure in the eye caused by the massive blood congestion. As a result, a loss of vision can occur, which can become permanent (chronic) if no prompt treatment is given.
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