Unchecked blood pressure also causes complete blindness
While sudden loss of eyesight due to RAO is rare, it, however, requires immediate medical attention, with an estimated four-hour window of potential good recovery
Hyderabad: It is common knowledge that blood pressure is associated with heart ailments. But, do you know that it also causes sudden and irreversible vision loss? Yes, you read it right! Blood pressure, if left unchecked, can cause sudden vision loss, which is an ophthalmic emergency just like a heart emergency, causing complete loss of vision.
Known as Retinal Artery Occlusion (RAO), patients suffering from this medical condition have to be rushed to an eye hospital within 4 hours, for a chance to recover. In case of a delay, there are chances of sudden vision loss, which can’t be corrected through surgery.
With a large population at risk of cardiovascular diseases due to blood pressure, it becomes equally important to understand this population’s vulnerability to sudden loss of eyesight due to RAO, said senior ophthalmology specialists from Hyderabad-based L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), Dr Yogita Kadam and Dr Brijesh Takkar, in their study published in ‘Indian Journal of Ophthalmology’ (January 2025).
So, how does the eye get impacted by high blood pressure? The cholesterol plaque deposits in arteries cause emergency eye-blindness. “Cholesterol plaque deposits in our arteries result in blockages, causing heart episodes. Such deposits, when they block retinal arteries, can result in sudden and irreversible vision loss. When a blood vessel is blocked, it cuts off blood supply to the retina, creating an ophthalmic emergency known as RAO. The lack of oxygen (hypoxia) starts killing retinal cells, causing a sudden loss of vision,” LVPEI researchers said.
While sudden loss of eyesight due to RAO is rare, it, however, requires immediate medical attention, with an estimated four-hour window of potential good recovery. Interventions include eye massages to dislodge the block, draining fluids from the anterior chamber of the eye to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP), and injecting drugs to dissolve the clot. Almost all interventions are too late and have a poor prognosis, doctors said.
The LVPEI eye researchers, in the study, which covered 3,070 patients, acknowledged that there is a limited understanding and awareness about RAO, not only among the general public but even among caregivers, a major reason why most patients seek medical help at a very late stage.
“Lack of awareness about the disease is particularly true of RAO data from India, due to the rarity of the condition, its sudden onset, and the finality of its outcomes. India has a large at-risk population for cardiovascular diseases, and it is important to understand this population’s susceptibility to RAO,” the experts said.
