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high blood pressure, Heart disease, or Diabetes as an underlying condition. Other conditions that may increase the risk of RAO include high cholesterol and glaucoma.
What else can I help you with?
What are the risk factors for ischemia?
Men who are 45 years of age and older and women who are 55 years of age and older are considered to be at risk. Risk also increases with age.
Retinal artery occlusion?
DefinitionRetinal artery occlusion is a blockage of the blood supply in the arteries to the retina -- the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye.Alternative NamesCentral retinal artery occlusion; Branch retinal artery occlusion; CRAO; BRAOCauses, incidence, and risk factorsRetinal arteries may become blocked by a blood clot or substances (such as fat or plaque) that get stuck in the arteries. These blockages may occur due to hardening of the arteries in the eye.Also, clots may travel from other parts of the body and block an artery in the retina. A common source of a clot would be from the carotid artery in the neck or from the heart lining.Most clots are caused by conditions such as:DiabetesDisease of the two large blood vessels in the neck (carotid artery disease)Disorder of high blood fats (hyperlipidemia)Heart rhythm problem (atrial fibrillation)High blood pressureIf a branch of the retinal artery is blocked, part of the artery will not have enough blood and oxygen. If this happens, you may lose part of your vision.Retinal artery blockage or occlusions may last from only a few seconds to a few minutes. They also may cause permanent vision loss. The amount of vision loss is partly related to the location of the blockage.People with retinal arterial occlusion, whether it is temporary or permanent, have a risk of stroke because clots may also move to the brain.Retinal vessel occlusion more often affects older people. Risk factors are related to the disorders that cause the blockage.SymptomsSudden blurring or loss of vision in all or part of one eyeSigns and testsTests to evaluate the retina may include:Color visionExamination of the retina after the pupil is dilatedFluorescein angiographyIntraocular pressurePupil reflex responseRefraction testRetinal photographySlit lamp examinationTesting of side vision (visual field examination)Test that measures the electrical activity of the retina (electroretinogram)Visual acuityTests to identify the source of a clot from another part of the body:EchocardiogramHeart monitor for abnormal heart rhythmUltrasound or Doppler ultrasound of the carotid arteriesOther tests may include:Blood pressureCholesterol and triglyceride levelsComplete physical examTreatmentBreathing in (inhaling) a carbon dioxide-oxygen mixture has been used to treat blockages in the arteries. This treatment causes the arteries of the retina to widen (dilate). It may allow the clot to move down the artery and sometimes break up, which reduces the area of the retina that is affected.The health care provider should look for the cause of the blockage. Blockages may be signs of a life-threatening medical problem. Patients with retinal artery occlusions should be screened for:Cranial arteritisCarotid artery blockageHeart rhythm disturbancesHeart valve diseaseHigh blood pressureThe use of the clot-busting drug, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), within a few hours of retinal artery occlusion may be helpful.Expectations (prognosis)People with blockages of the retinal artery may not get their vision back.ComplicationsPartial or complete loss of vision in the affected eyeSimilar problem occurring again in the same or the other eyeStrokeCalling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you have sudden blurring or vision loss.PreventionMeasures used to prevent other blood vessel (vascular) diseases, such as coronary artery disease, may decrease the risk of retinal artery occlusion. These include:Eating a low-fat dietExercisingStopping smokingLosing weight if you are overweightAspirin is commonly used to prevent the artery from becoming blocked again.ReferencesVortmann M, Schneider JI. Acute monocular visual loss. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2008;26:73-96.Pokhrel PK, Loftus SA. Ocular emergencies. Am Fam Physician. 2007;76:829-836.
What is moderate occlusion?
Moderate occlusion refers to a situation where there is partial blockage or closure of a blood vessel or passageway, such as with a moderate degree of plaque buildup in an artery. It may lead to reduced blood flow or function in the affected area, potentially causing symptoms depending on the location and severity of the occlusion. Monitoring and managing risk factors are important to prevent progression to more severe occlusive conditions.
How is high cholesterol levels a risk factor for ischemia?
Risk of developing coronary artery disease increases as blood cholesterol levels increase. When combined with other factors, the risk is even greater.
How does smoking affect your risk cardiovascular disease?
Nicotine, the active ingredient in tobacco, is a stimulant compound. For those individuals who are already predisposed to heart disease and coronary artery narrowing, nicotine stimulation can cause coronary artery vasospasm and attacks of angina pain. Smoking cigarettes is a known risk factory for coronary artery disease.
Retinal vein occlusion?
DefinitionRetinal vein occlusion is a blockage in the blood supply from the retina -- the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye.Alternative NamesCentral retinal vein occlusion; Branch retinal vein occlusion; CRVO; BRVOCauses, incidence, and risk factorsVeins of the retina can become blocked by a blood clot. Retinal vein occlusion also can occur when the retinal arteries put pressure on the retinal vein. This is usually caused by a condition such as:Blood clotDiabetesGlaucomaHardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)High blood pressureRetinal vein occlusion most often affects older people. Risk factors are related to the disorders that cause the blockage.SymptomsSudden blurring or vision loss in all or part of one eyeSigns and testsTests to evaluate the retina include:Color visionExamination of the retina after dilating the pupilFluorescein angiographyIntraocular pressurePupil reflex responseRefraction testRetinal photographySlit lamp examinationTesting of side vision (visual field examination)Visual acuityOther tests may include:Blood tests for diabetes, high cholesterol, and triglyceride levelsBlood tests to look for a clotting problem (in patients under age 40)The health care provider should closely monitor any blockage for several months, because many harmful effects, such as glaucoma, take 3 or more months to develop.TreatmentTreatment can include aspirin and laser therapy.Clinical trials are now underway to determine whether drugs that stop the growth of abnormal blood vessels (anti-VEGF drugs) might help treat retinal vein occlusion.Expectations (prognosis)The outcome varies. Patients with retinal vein occlusions often regain excellent sight.ComplicationsGlaucomaPartial or complete vision loss in the affected eyeCalling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you have sudden blurring or vision loss.PreventionThe measures used to prevent other blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease, may decrease the risk of retinal vein occlusion. These measures include:Eating a low-fat dietExercisingLosing weight if you're overweightAspirin is commonly used to prevent additional blockages in the vein.Controlling diabetes is also helpful for preventing retinal vein occlusion.ReferencesWu L, Arevalo JF, Roca JA, Maia M, Berrocal MH, Rodriguez FJ, et al. Pan-American Collaborative Retina Study Group (PACORES). Comparison of two doses of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for treatment of macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion: results from the Pan-American Collaborative Retina Study Group at 6 months of follow-up. Retina. 2008;28:212-219.Kreutzer TC, Alge CS, Wolf AH, Kook D, Burger J, Strauss R, et al. Intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of macular oedema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion. Br J Ophthalmol. 2008;92:351-355.
Can drinking Diet Coke cause detached retina?
Moderate to severe consumption of diet soda which has Aspartame as artificial sweetener can increase the risk of optic nerve swelling, optic nerve atrophy, retinal atrophy and retinal degeneration which can predispose to retinal detachment.. They found that Aspartame can cause damage to retinal blood vessels and increase the risk of leakage of blood and fluid from these damaged vessels.
What does it mean if your vein and artery are twisted?
This means your at risk of an anerism.
By what measure is retinal detachment a common condition?
Retinal detachment occurs in one in 10,000 Americans each year, with middle-aged and older individuals being at higher risk than the younger population.
What ethnic group is at greatest risk for occlusive arterial disease?
African-Americans have been shown to be at greater risk for arterial occlusion than other racial groups in the United States.
Can pulmonary hypertension cause a stroke?
High blood pressure is a risk factor for stroke. It puts pressure on the small vessels throughout the brain which in turn may rupture aswell as potentially causing a cholesterol plaque to dislodge travel through the brain and cause a vein or artery occlusion therby causing a stroke. So the answer is yes it can.
Why is Timely Treatment Important?
The longer a retinal tear remains untreated, the higher the risk of it progressing to a retinal detachment. A detached retina can lead to irreversible vision loss, making early intervention all the more critical.
