We often talk about cerebrovascular accident (CVA), against which we must react as quickly as possible. We regularly explain the possible symptoms, the consequences and we alert on the causes… Especially around the day of October 29, dedicated to the prevention of this disorder. But when we hear about stroke of the eye, do we know what it is?
Stroke and stroke of the eye, what is the difference?
Loss of sight in one eye, or difficulty seeing properly are among the possible symptoms of stroke. But stroke of the eye is something else: occlusion of the central retinal artery. As the Nantes University Hospital website explains, the two may be related, stroke of the eye can predict stroke, years 10% to 15% of casesexplains neurologist Benoît Guillon at 20 Minutes. There would be between 5,000 and 10,000 cases per year, he estimates, and it can happen regardless of our age.
“Central retinal artery occlusion (ROAC), commonly known as stroke of the eye, is much rarer than strokes of the brain which affect 150,000 cases per year in France”, explains doctor Benoît Guillon of Nantes University Hospital on the hospital site. In the interview granted to 20 Minutes, he adds that the mechanism is similar to that of stroke : this is also a “carotid artery accident”, but the clot does not go into the brain, it goes to the eye.
The OACR is due to the formation of a blood clot that blocks the central artery that supplies the retina. Blood clotting problems may be involved, such as a heart disorder or even lipid plaques (atheromas) in the carotid arteries, explains the Laser Vision Institute. But also diabetes, cholesterol, tobacco, hypertension…
What are the symptoms ?
The symptoms are quite reduced: there is no pain with the stroke of the eye. However, it causes a sudden loss of sight, before seeing the size of the pupil grow. Exposed to light, the latter is not very reactive, precise the laser vision institute.
Diagnosis and treatment
The first support factor is time. The estimated time is 4h30, which determines the effectiveness of the treatment. The CHU de Nantes advises to contact 15 when you suspect a stroke of the eye and to be guided by the trained teams. To confirm this, an ophthalmologist performs a fundus examination.
“This care is essential to try to reduce the risk of permanent blindness. but also to find the cause and put in place treatments to prevent other subsequent cardiovascular accidents”, specifies the CHU. Above all, we must not wait to see if it returns to normal on its own, because the cells of the retina need to be replenished very quickly in order to be able to function again.
As with a stroke, the doctor’s job is to “reduce the consequences of the occlusion of the artery and therefore to improve the patient’s vision and future autonomy”, explains Benoît Guillon on the CHU website. A track is operated, by intravenous fibrinolysis, a drug treatment that aims to dissolve the blood clot.
Sources: 20 Minutes, Nantes University Hospital, Laser Vision Institute