Eagleview Eye Clinic

Tag vision loss

ANGIOID STREAKS

Angioid Streaks

Angioid streaks are irregular breaks in Bruch’s membrane, a layer of tissue in the retina. This condition can cause:

  • Vision loss
  • Distortion
  • Blind spots

Associated Conditions

  1. Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE): A genetic disorder affecting elastic tissue
  2. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: A genetic disorder affecting connective tissue
  3. Paget’s disease: A bone disorder

Symptoms

  1. Vision loss: Central or peripheral vision loss
  2. Distortion: Straight lines appear wavy
  3. Blind spots: Areas of decreased vision

Complications

  1. Choroidal neovascularization: Growth of new, fragile blood vessels
  2. Hemorrhages: Bleeding in the retina

Management

  1. Regular eye exams: To monitor disease progression
  2. Treatment of complications: Such as anti-VEGF injections for CNV

If you have angioid streaks, work closely with an eye care professional to manage the condition and preserve vision.

ISCHEMIC ANTERIOR OPTIC NEUROPATHY

Ischemic Anterior Optic Neuropathy (AION)

Ischemic AION is a condition where the optic nerve is damaged due to reduced blood flow. This can cause:

  • Sudden vision loss
  • Blind spots
  • Decreased visual acuity

Types

  1. Arteritic AION: Associated with giant cell arteritis
  2. Non-arteritic AION: More common, often related to vascular risk factors

Risk Factors

  1. Age: More common in older adults
  2. Vascular conditions: Hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis
  3. Giant cell arteritis: Inflammatory condition

Treatment

  1. Managing underlying conditions: Controlling vascular risk factors
  2. Corticosteroids: For arteritic AION
  3. Low vision rehabilitation: Adapting to vision loss

If you suspect AION, seek immediate medical attention from an eye care professional or an optometrist . Prompt treatment can help preserve vision.

Ocular Ischemic Syndrome.

Ocular ischemic syndrome is a rare condition caused by severe carotid artery stenosis or occlusion, leading to reduced blood flow to the eye. This can result in:

  • Gradual vision loss
  • Pain in the eye
  • Retinal damage

Causes

  1. Carotid artery disease: Narrowing or blockage of the carotid artery.
  2. Atherosclerosis: Buildup of plaque in the arteries.

Symptoms

  1. Vision loss: Gradual or sudden loss of vision.
  2. Eye pain: Pain or discomfort in the affected eye.
  3. Retinal hemorrhages: Bleeding in the retina.

Treatment

  1. Carotid endarterectomy: Surgery to remove plaque from the carotid artery.
  2. Angioplasty and stenting: Procedures to improve blood flow.
  3. Management of underlying conditions: Controlling hypertension, diabetes, and other risk factors.

If you suspect ocular ischemic syndrome, seek immediate medical attention from an eye care professional or a vascular specialist. Prompt treatment can help prevent further vision loss.

AMAUROSIS FUGAX

Amaurosis fugax is a short temporary vision loss on one or both eyes, due to blockage of blood flow to the retina.

Amaurosis fugax can be a precursor of conditions that are severely sight and life threatening. Hence when complain is made, your optometrist will examine you to rule out conditions like multiple sclerosis, transient ischaemic attack, very high blood pressure, blood clots, traumatic brain injury,  stroke, optic nerve inflammation.

After Examination, treatment is instituted depending on the cause of this fleeting or transient vision loss.

ANTERIOR STAPHYLOMA

This occurs when the sclera and uvea  undergoes thinning and then bulges out while assuming a dark blue pigmentation.

STAPHYLOMA can be caused by infection, trauma, surgery, scleritis et.c

Signs and symptoms includes, loss of vision, bulgy eyes, discharge ( for infectious cases). et.c.

Treatment is purely surgical, they include kerotoplasty, sclerokeratoplasty, mushroom grafting, et.c

EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE

Epiretinal membrane also known as cellophane maculopathy or macular pucker is an avascular, Semi translucent, fibrocellular formed over the Retinal surface.

This membrane is caused by changes in vitreous integrity, retinal detachment et.c

This condition have been known to cause painless loss of vision.

Most of the time epiretinal membrane is asymptomatic but it can result in diplopia, metamorphopsia.

Treatment options involves surgical intervention.