Updated on 06/12/2024
Eye stroke is a type of acute ischemic stroke that causes sudden, severe vision loss and poses a risk for future cerebral stroke. It is treatable if diagnosed promptly.
Photo: Dilek Necioğlu Örken
The underlying cause of eye stroke is retinal artery occlusion. Diagnosis is often delayed because patients do not seek emergency care immediately, and even in emergency departments, the condition might not be recognized swiftly, limiting time-sensitive treatment options. Retinal artery occlusion leads to inner retinal ischemia, which becomes irreversible after only a few hours.
If retinal artery occlusion is diagnosed within four and a half hours from the onset of symptoms, the patient may be eligible for intravenous thrombolysis.
