Central retinal artery occlusion

Posted by Scott, Volunteer Mentor @IndianaScott, Nov 30, 2017

Good day all! Yesterday I lost 100%% of the sight in my right eye. After a day of testing, etc. I was diagnosed with central retinal artery occlusion. Simply put they say I had a stroke in my right eye. The ophthalmologist said "99% the loss is permanent". Seeing a retinal specialist next week.

I am curious if anyone here has this condition and if your loss was indeed permanent.

Thanks for any input!

Strength, courage, and peace to all.

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@retiredteacher

@IndianaScott. My husband had an eye stroke from high blood pressure and heart problems in November. He had an eye stoke, but he did not lose the sight totally. He is having injections in the eye every four weeks, though the damage that's been done cannot be undone. The doc said the bleeding from the stoke is slowly being absorbed, but the blurred vision remains.
We were in for another treatment yesterday, and the retina is now swollen. When this started, we had never heard of an eye stroke, but we researched, asked questions, and got answers we didn't want to hear. So far his right eye is okay. I am sorry this happened to you as it did my husband. He is not sightless, but another stroke in that eye will possibly render that outcome.
I'll be interested in what a specialist tells you.

Good luck, and you are not alone; my husband and I are with you and hoping that something can be done.

retiredteacher

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Hello @retiredteacher Nice to read your kind words and thank you for sharing your husband's experiences with this. I just got the 'good news' from my specialist I can move to 6 month check ups, but along with that now know my right eyesight is gone for good. Nothing to be done in my case and a bit tough to hear him say the only change is the tissue in the eye dying more and more.

Hey, at least our grandsons think it's cool to have a grandpa they can call a pirate now!

I'll chalk that one up to looking on the bright side of things!

Courage, strength, and peace!

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@IndianaScott
Hello Scott,

Thanks for sharing your 'good news' as well as your grandkids perspective - being a pirate isn't all bad is it?

Teresa

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i am curious if the stroke occurred following cataract surgery. I am currently receiving injections every four to six weeks..

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@hikergirl

i am curious if the stroke occurred following cataract surgery. I am currently receiving injections every four to six weeks..

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Hello @hikergirl It occurred out of the blue. I’d had no prior eye surgeries.

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Thanks for your response. The wavy lines appeared following cataract surgery and I was told at a follow-up visit that my eye had a stoke, possibly because of my age and independent of the urgery.

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@IndianaScott

Thanks @colleenyoung The adjustments are progressing and as a caregiver of old, I am looking at this as one more change in a world filled with changes for each of us! Still in the 'discovery phase' where I encounter new lighting conditions, etc., which cause some new learning, but am trying hard to not let this get in my way anymore than it does!
Scott

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Hi Scott. I had a CRAO in July of 2021. I woke up and had no vision in my left eye it was painless. My vision will not come back according to the specialist I saw. I was 72 yrs young and it has affected my depth perception so I don't drive anymore. It has been a learning thing with going down stairs or trying pick things up is a few things. Good luck and wish you well.
Diana

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Extremely nearsighted, all my life with bad astigmatism. Keratoconus started in the late 80s and slowly progressed into into the year 2000, until I was legally blind, also had cataracts. Only option were cornea transplants which help me see again for 15 years. Started noticing curved weird vision in my left eye was diagnosed with myopic degenerative disease and the first injection in my eye was Avastin, which miraculously helped me see again for a year but unfortunately this disease gets worse and so eight years later, I get quite a few injections of Eylea. The last round was one injection every month for four months. On April 16 I was looking at my phone and had this dreadful feeling come over my whole body and my left eye went black. I was diagnosed with an eye stroke and sent to the hospital for further tests. Was finally diagnosed with retinal artery occlusion in my left eye. What vision I have left is slowly coming back. I can see light, vision is very distorted. It was before with the degenerative disease, but now it’s even worse I have been told this will probably be it as my vision will not improve anymore and I should be lucky. I even got this back it. It has been a constant battle with my eyes all my life.

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@ellerchim

Extremely nearsighted, all my life with bad astigmatism. Keratoconus started in the late 80s and slowly progressed into into the year 2000, until I was legally blind, also had cataracts. Only option were cornea transplants which help me see again for 15 years. Started noticing curved weird vision in my left eye was diagnosed with myopic degenerative disease and the first injection in my eye was Avastin, which miraculously helped me see again for a year but unfortunately this disease gets worse and so eight years later, I get quite a few injections of Eylea. The last round was one injection every month for four months. On April 16 I was looking at my phone and had this dreadful feeling come over my whole body and my left eye went black. I was diagnosed with an eye stroke and sent to the hospital for further tests. Was finally diagnosed with retinal artery occlusion in my left eye. What vision I have left is slowly coming back. I can see light, vision is very distorted. It was before with the degenerative disease, but now it’s even worse I have been told this will probably be it as my vision will not improve anymore and I should be lucky. I even got this back it. It has been a constant battle with my eyes all my life.

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Experienced extreme dizziness waking up in the morning as I was stretching. Thought that was strange after it subsided got up and was dizzy again. In great health. Workout everyday. Next morning felt ok was looking at my phone and had this doomsday feeling flood my body and my vision in my left eye went dark with only shards of light coming thru. Retinal specialist.( I also have myopic degenerative disease.) put me in the hospital when he saw plaque possibly heading to my brain . It finally was going down ( wherever it went) and consulted several doctors which were no help. The last one diagnosed me with an eye stroke. Vision has slowly returned what is left if it. There is light and a lot of distortion . I have been told I should be lucky it even is like this and what is left will be permanent. Anyone else had this happen?

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@ellerchim

Extremely nearsighted, all my life with bad astigmatism. Keratoconus started in the late 80s and slowly progressed into into the year 2000, until I was legally blind, also had cataracts. Only option were cornea transplants which help me see again for 15 years. Started noticing curved weird vision in my left eye was diagnosed with myopic degenerative disease and the first injection in my eye was Avastin, which miraculously helped me see again for a year but unfortunately this disease gets worse and so eight years later, I get quite a few injections of Eylea. The last round was one injection every month for four months. On April 16 I was looking at my phone and had this dreadful feeling come over my whole body and my left eye went black. I was diagnosed with an eye stroke and sent to the hospital for further tests. Was finally diagnosed with retinal artery occlusion in my left eye. What vision I have left is slowly coming back. I can see light, vision is very distorted. It was before with the degenerative disease, but now it’s even worse I have been told this will probably be it as my vision will not improve anymore and I should be lucky. I even got this back it. It has been a constant battle with my eyes all my life.

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Welcome @ellerchim. You certainly have had a long istory of eye issues. I'm tagging fellow members like @dianas @hikergirl and @IndianaScott who also have experience with an eye stroke (retinal artery ccclusion).

It must be hard to accept that vision will likely not improve beyond where you're at now. Reading your profile is obvious that vision issues have not slowed you down however! Do you use a screen reader to take part in this forum?

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@colleenyoung

Welcome @ellerchim. You certainly have had a long istory of eye issues. I'm tagging fellow members like @dianas @hikergirl and @IndianaScott who also have experience with an eye stroke (retinal artery ccclusion).

It must be hard to accept that vision will likely not improve beyond where you're at now. Reading your profile is obvious that vision issues have not slowed you down however! Do you use a screen reader to take part in this forum?

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Thank you Colleen for your concern. My right eye is still working with glasses although beginning signs of glaucoma. So hopefully I am praying I have have some years left with that eye. I probably should get a screen reader since I just use my phone only and the print is small. Thank you for letting me know of others who have also experienced an eye stroke.Because it happens so suddenly and with no warning it was very frightening.
Thanks again
@ellerchim

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