Did You Know? Two-thirds of patients have hypertension.
Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO) is Considered a "Stroke" of the Eye
The retina is a layer of cells at the back of the eye that allow us to see light and color. The blockage usually comes from a clot or fatty deposit in the blood vessel. If the blood clot breaks free and moves to the brain, it can cause a stroke.
This guide is intended to help educate patients on CRAO risk factors, symptoms and treatment options.
01 | Risk Factors
The most common risk factors associated with CRAO include:
02 | Symptoms
Central retinal artery occlusion causes sudden, painless, severe vision loss or visual field effect. There are no symptoms before it happens.
If only a branch of the artery is blocked, there may be partial loss of vision coming from the area of the retina not receiving blood.
03 | Treatment
No treatment method has been shown to conclusively benefit CRAO. If you are seen within 24 hours after acute vision loss begins, the ophthalmologist can attempt to dislodge the embolus through methods such as:
If you suffer from diabetes, are overweight, have hypertension or are between the ages of 50 and 70, you should be aware of the signs of CRAO.
Your Ophthalmologist may diagnose CRAO after an examination of the eye, including a dilated pupil exam.
For more information on CRAO, please visit: https://www.aao.org/
References
http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/eye-occlusions.htm
