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Retinal vascular occlusion occurs when a blood vessel in the retina, the layer of tissue at the back of your eye, becomes blocked. The job of the retina is to sense light and send signals to your brain so you can see. When blood vessels serving the retina become blocked or have a clot, pressure builds up in the eye. When this happens, the retina is unable to complete its job, resulting in vision loss.
You will notice a sudden change in vision, usually only in one eye. Your vision might become blurred, or you might not be able to see at all in that eye. You will not feel any pain in your eye with this vision loss.
If you lose any eyesight, you should seek medical treatment immediately because waiting to see a doctor makes the vision loss more likely. Sometimes people suffer short-term damage to their vision while others may suffer permanent damage, and this depends on how severe the damage is and how quickly you start treatment.
Still today, eye doctors are not sure what causes the condition. While it is possible retinal vascular occlusion occurs because the veins in the eye are very narrow, the exact cause is not known. We do know there are risk factors that can lead to the condition, and these include:
Your ophthalmologist will:
There is no specific medication available for this condition, but treatments may include:
This condition may occur because of issues with your heart and blood vessels, therefore taking care of your heart, and living a healthy lifestyle is vital.
Regular eye exams are an essential part of your health. Grand Rapids Ophthalmology has fellowship-trained retinal specialists to treat your retina problems, including retinal vascular occlusions. Grand Rapids Ophthalmology offers the most advanced treatment options, including drug therapies, injections, surgery, and laser treatments. How they choose to treat your retinal vascular occlusion depends on their recommendations and what is best for your unique eyes.
