Retinal vascular occlusion is a serious condition that can cause sight loss when not diagnosed and treated promptly. Your retina, located at the back of your eye, converts the light that enters your eye into signals that are communicated to your brain and fed back as images. A healthy flow of blood to your retina is required to ensure it is able to do its job well. However, when blockages occur in the blood vessels surrounding your retina, not enough oxygen and nutrients are able to reach the retina and it's unable to function optimally. Retinal vascular occlusion doesn't always have a clear identifiable cause, but lifestyle factors and underlying health conditions that impair blood flow can increase you're your risk of developing this condition. So, if you're a smoker, are diabetic or have high blood pressure, discuss your risk of developing retinal vascular occlusion with your optometrist.

Symptoms Of Retinal Vascular Occlusion

Early symptoms of retinal vascular occlusion include light sensitivity, blurred vision and a gradual reduction in your ability to see well in reduced light, such as when driving at night. Without early intervention, you can experience partial or complete blindness, and it's even possible for the retina to become detached due to a build-up of pressure in the back of the eye caused by blocked blood vessels.  

Diagnosing And Treating Retinal Vascular Occlusion

Retinal vascular occlusion can be diagnosed during a routine eye test. Your optometrist will check the condition of the back of your eye using an ophthalmoscope, which is a magnifying device. They will be able to spot swelling and be able to identify areas of abnormal blood vessels. You may be referred for a diagnostic procedure called fluorescein angiogram, which uses a dye that highlights blockages in the blood vessels of your eye. This procedure can show which blood vessels are affected and to what extent.

Once diagnosed, your optometrist can outline a suitable treatment approach. Corticosteroid injections and blood thinners may be required to support blood flow to your retina and bring down swelling, and laser eye therapy may be recommended to unblock damaged blood vessels. You may require a referral to another specialist to treat an underlying condition, such as high blood pressure, and if you would like support to tackle problematic lifestyle factors, such as smoking, a tertiary referral can be made.

Having regular eye tests allows your optometrist to spot early signs of a range of conditions that can damage your sight. If you are having problems with your vision, don't delay scheduling an eye test with an optometrist.