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What Are the Dangers of an Eye Stroke?

An eye stroke can occur suddenly, with little or no warning. Technically referred to as an Anterior Ischematic Optic Neuropathy, an eye stroke can bring on many different dangerous efects, which vary from individual to individual based on the cause, and can lead to visually devastating results.

  1. Vision Loss

    • Vision loss is the most common effect of an eye stroke, and severity varies from mild vision loss to severe, in which case the patient is unable to see any light source. Vision loss is usually the first symptom, occurring in one eye, and can be temporary, long-lasting, or permanent depending on the type and degree the of eye stroke.

    Loss of Contrast Sensitivity

    • Contrast sensitivity is important to vision acuity, since the world is not made of black and white. Contrast sensitivity is even required to read, and to judge depth. After an eye stroke, doctors can use amber filters and increased task lighting to treat contrast loss.

    Light and Glare

    • Glaring is a visual impairment that comes in many forms, and ranges from mild to severe. Eye stroke patients often see "starbursts" from light sources, or halos, which surround light sources with a white glow. Double vision and "ghosting" are other glare problems that cause the patient to see multiple images or visual "echoes."

    Loss of Peripheral Vision

    • Peripheral vision capability is what keeps people from having tunnel vision, which is only being able to see exactly what is straight ahead. Loss of peripheral vision affects a range of activities in daily life, including driving, reading, and simply walking around. As with other eye stroke dangers, the duration of peripheral vision loss varies.

    Emotional and Psychological Well Being

    • Sudden vision loss results in severe stress for eye stroke patients, who are emotionally and psychologically overwhelmed by the halt that has come to regular activities because of the eye stroke, according to Dr. Richard and Laura Windsor's report, "Understanding A Stroke of the Optic Nerve."

    Prognosis

    • Dr. Richard and Laura Windsor report that 40 percent of eye stroke patients experience some degree of vision improvement over time. Loss of peripheral vision is less likely to improve. The Windsor report says that roughly 20 to 25 percent of patients that suffered a stroke in one eye, will eventually experience the stroke in the other eye within three years.

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