Vision loss at the blink of an eye? Rush for help
We often assume that a loss of vision develops gradually. But it can also happen from one moment to the next. Such sudden vision loss can have various causes and it is important to get medical help quickly
You've suddenly lost all vision. No warning signs, no injury, no pain and not even a hint of redness around the eyes. Full or partial vision loss overnight mainly happens to the elderly, and often, circulatory disorders are to blame, says Thomas Reinhard, an ophthalmology professor.
It may sound obvious, but if that happens, it's essential you act quickly to save your sight. “Disturbances in blood circulation can lead to occlusion of the central artery of the eye,” says Reinhard. The artery supplies the retina with oxygen and important nutrients and when this vessel, which carries blood to the retina, closes, then, as he puts it, “the light goes out” — sometimes in seconds! In other words, the affected eye goes dark almost abruptly.
RUSHING FOR MEDICAL INTERVENTION
Sometimes, those affected only lose their vision for a few seconds, before the vessel’s blockage eases — something that can happen within the space of 10 minutes or 1 hour. Whatever happens, Reinhard says, go to the doctor immediately and find out the cause of the vessel occlusion.
According to Reinhard, your family doctor should also look into the possibility of blood clotting generally. He says those showing such symptoms may need to visit a neurologist, too, as they can look into the blood flow to the carotid artery, which is also responsible for blood supply to the brain and eyes.If
circulatory problems cause a complete loss of vision and the patient arrives too late, which is the case usually, not much can be done for the affected eye, warns Reinhard.
PAIN IN THE EYE
As far as doctors know, treating the issue
with anticoagulants makes little sense for the eye as that only leads to side effects. However, in some cases, you can identify the exact cause of the circulatory disorder and take measures to counter it. Often, you can save the vision of the second eye. In very rare cases, the central retinal artery is occluded due to inflammation, a condition known as arteritis temporalis. It’s an autoimmunological vascular inflammation in which your body’s own defences attack the arteries, leading to circulatory disorders. Those affected have severe headaches and chewing pains, but no pain in the eye. The inflammation can also lead to blindness. A detached retina and optic nerve diseases are among other possible causes for a sudden yet painless loss of vision. Always seek advice from an ophthalmologist if you are in pain. Depending on what
HEALTH ALERT
symptoms you are experiencing, the doctor will measure your eye pressure and examine your retina or optic nerve. It ensures that any risk factors for possible loss of vision are spotted and prevented or treated early.
ULTRASOUND AND OTHER DIAGNOSES
According to specialists, an ultrasound of eye can also helpdiagnosing a problem; this is useful if the doctor is struggling to see into the interior of the eye due to “badly dilated aperture.”
Modern ultrasound techniques can show the smallest red blood cells in the eye, so sonography can provide a precise and exact representation than other imaging methods such as computer tomography (CT) scan. An advantage of an ultrasound is that patients can move their eyes, which gives medics further important and vital information to work with. Also, any hidden areas can be depicted fairly accurately. —
ACCORDING TO REINHARD, FAMILY DOCTOR SHOULD LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF BLOOD CLOTTING GENERALLY. HE SAYS THOSE SHOWING SUCH SYMPTOMS NEED TO VISIT A NEUROLOGIST, TOO, AS THEY CAN LOOK INTO THE BLOOD FLOW TO THE CAROTID ARTERY, WHICH IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE BRAIN AND EYES