Therapy

Early treatment of a stroke is extremely important to prevent consequential damage such as permanent blindness of the affected eye. The earlier the treatment, the better the chances. Initially, the focus is also on preserving the ability to see.

This is followed by the fight against the cause of the stroke in order to minimize the risk of a new one. Different treatment approaches are carried out. Blood-thinning medication can be administered.

This should help the blood to flow better through the vessels of the retina. Since there is also swelling in the eye, which hinders sharp vision, medicines containing cortisone are also often administered. They are also injected directly into the eye under local anesthesia in acute situations.

They are intended to make the eye swell better and prevent damage to the retina. VEGF inhibitors are another very widespread drug. This is a substance that is also injected directly into the eye.

It prevents the growth of new vessels by inhibiting the growth factor VEGF. This prevents the formation of unwanted vessels that would further promote the formation of edema. At the same time, the inhibitors have a decongestant effect.

In the long term, the cause, i.e. the poor condition of the vessels, should also be improved. Thus, treatment of high blood pressure and blood lipid values should be carried out. Patients with diabetes should take the right medication and eat a healthy diet. Furthermore, giving up smoking and more physical activity is also beneficial to avoid the risk of a recurrent stroke in the same or another eye.

What to do?

Many people are not aware that a stroke can also occur in the eye. Since the symptoms can also occur gradually, the situation is initially not recognized until vision problems eventually occur or even blindness on the affected eye. If the cause is not treated quickly, the retina can be severely damaged due to the congested blood.

If the blood supply remains interrupted for too long, it can be irreparably damaged. For the patient, this means that consequential damage such as partial visual impairment or complete loss of vision remains. Therefore, the affected person should consult an ophthalmologist. For many, the symptoms are unsettling and frightening. It is therefore helpful if the patient is not alone, especially since it would be too dangerous to drive a car in this situation.