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Retinal vascular occlusion

Eye stroke

A blood vessel in the retina becomes blocked. This causes sudden, painless loss of vision in one eye and is often a sign of hardening of the arteries or high blood pressure.

PainNoneMost often affectsOver 60sTypicallyOne eye
Urgent

Sudden loss of vision must be examined the same day. With paralysis, speech difficulties or a drooping mouth at the same time: call 112.

Two types

Retinal vein occlusion

The most common form. Blood cannot drain out of the retina, causing bleeding and swelling. Vision becomes blurred over hours to days.

Retinal artery occlusion

The blood supply to the retina stops. Causes sudden and often severe loss of vision. Must be treated like a stroke.

Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). The bleeding spreads across the area the vein drains.

Sudden loss of vision is always urgent

Contact an eye doctor or the out-of-hours service the same day. Call 112 if the loss of vision comes with paralysis, numbness, speech difficulties or a drooping mouth, or if you have lost your sight completely in one eye.

Who is at risk?

  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes and high cholesterol
  • Smoking
  • Glaucoma
  • Increasing age

Treatment

With a vein occlusion, swelling of the macula can be treated with injections of medicine into the eye, and new, fragile blood vessels can be treated with laser. With an artery occlusion, you must quickly be referred for examination in hospital to prevent blood clots elsewhere in the body.

Whatever the type, you should have your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol checked by your GP.

This text is general information and does not replace an examination. If you are unsure about your symptoms, call us.