Vein in the eye burst – Is it a stroke?
If you notice little veins in your eye that have burst when you look in the mirror, this is no cause for concern at first. There are many different causes that can lead to this phenomenon. These include mechanical irritation caused by frequent rubbing or problems with contact lenses, but also dry eyes, foreign bodies or a temporary increase in pressure, such as when sneezing or coughing. In almost all cases, burst veins in the eye are therefore harmless and it is not necessary to think about the presence of a stroke. Only when other serious symptoms, such as a visual disturbance or similar, are added, should a specialist be consulted promptly.
Risk factors
There are several risk factors that can lead to a stroke in the eye. Arterial occlusion: Vascular inflammation, such as arteritis temporalis Atrial fibrillation Arteriosclerosis of the carotid artery (carotid stenosis) Venous occlusion: Diabetes mellitus Hypertension Arteriosclerosis Glaucoma Inflammation of the eye vessels (retinal vasculitis)
- Artery occlusion: Vascular inflammation, such as arteritis temporalis Atrial fibrillation Arteriosclerosis of the carotid artery (carotid stenosis)
- Vascular inflammation, like arteritis temporalis
- Atrial fibrillation
- Arteriosclerosis of the carotid artery (carotid stenosis)
- Venous occlusion: Diabetes mellitus Hypertension Arteriosclerosis Glaucoma Inflammation of the eye vessels (retinal vasculitis)
- Diabetes mellitus
- High blood pressure
- Arteriosclerosis
- Glaucoma
- Inflammation of the eye vessels (retinal vasculitis)
- Vascular inflammation, like arteritis temporalis
- Atrial fibrillation
- Arteriosclerosis of the carotid artery (carotid stenosis)
- Diabetes mellitus
- High blood pressure
- Arteriosclerosis
- Glaucoma
- Inflammation of the eye vessels (retinal vasculitis)
Diagnostics
Various examinations can be performed to diagnose a stroke in the eye. The doctor can mirror the back of the eye. In doing so, he looks at the retina with a special lamp.
Here the first changes such as swelling and congested vessels can be seen. Since the retina can also become detached or injured in a stroke, it is important to determine the current condition of the retina. This is particularly important for the subsequent treatment, which should also be carried out quickly so that no secondary damage such as loss of vision remains.
By means of fluorescein angiography the vessels of the retina can be better visualized and assessed. Furthermore, the intraocular pressure can be measured. This examination is completely painless and provides information about the pressure inside the eye.By testing the visual acuity and the area of the field of vision, the doctor can also make initial assessments of the extent of retinal damage.
The general functions of the eye are also checked. This includes mobility in all directions to check the optic nerve and also the pupillary reflex. This is checked with a small light.
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