Sudden painless loss of vision

64 years old Savita Srivastava (name changed) , a diabetic and blood pressure patient complained  one day of losing her eye sight partially. When inquired by the eye specialist Dr Anil Gupta at Ganesh Eye Hospital, Amapara , she explained that she never experienced any pain but suddenly  she is unable to see the complete images .

Dr Anil Gupta diagnosed this as sudden loss of sight which can be a symptom of a serious medical condition. If you experience sudden blindness, you need to seek medical attention as quickly as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment could help save your sight, so contact Eye Institute straight away.

Symptoms

·         A sudden loss of vision doesn’t necessarily mean total blindness. Sudden blindness can occur in one eye or both eyes, and the loss of sight can be partial or total.

·         With total vision loss, the sight in the affected eye (or eyes) is lost completely, so that nothing can be seen with the affected eye. With partial vision loss, some sight may remain in the affected eye.

·         Sudden vision loss can include a sudden loss of peripheral vision, sudden loss of central vision, or even a sudden blurring of your vision. The sudden appearance of spots within your field of vision could also a symptom of a more serious condition.

·         Sudden blindness may only last a short time, such as a few seconds, minutes or hours. However, it could potentially be permanent, especially if not treated quickly.

Causes

According to Dr Anil Gupta, Sudden loss of vision can occur for a number of reasons. Many underlying problems are very serious, and could potentially be sight-threatening or even life-threatening. It’s therefore essential to seek medical help as soon as possible if you experience any sudden loss of sight.

·         Damage to the retina

The retina is the focusing surface at the back of your eye. Any damage to your retina, such as a detached retina or macular hole, is a possible cause of sudden blindness.

·         Vitreous haemorrhage

Some eye conditions can cause blood to leak into the vitreous ‘gel’ within the eye. This is known as a vitreous haemorrhage. If this occurs, it can block the light which enters the eye, causing sudden blurred vision, or the sudden appearance of spots within your vision.

Vitreous haemorrhage is more common in diebetic and hypertension patients in comparison to the normal people.

·         Serious medical conditionsThere are some serious medical conditions that can cause sudden blindness, such as a stroke or brain tumour. While these causes are quite rare, it is nonetheless important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Precautions:

·         Diabetic and hypertensive patients should go for yearly retinal check up to play safe.

·         Lipid-profile test which measure the total cholesterol and triglyceride level of an individual should also be undertaken yearly. The test provides detailed information on the amount of good and bad cholesterol that is present in the system and can become one of the reason for such kind of attacks.

·         Blood sugar level should be monitored regularly and every three monthly HBAIC should be tested as the blood vessels of the diabetic patients get weaker and more prone for such kind of attacks.

·         The blood pressure level of hypertensive patients should be checked every 10-15 days. If there is constant increase in the level then they should take medical help to avoid the situation.

Treatment

If you experience sudden blindness or any sudden loss of vision, you need to see an eye specialist straight away. Treatment will depend on the cause of your sudden blindness, but in most cases of sudden blindness, the earlier you are treated, the better your chance of a good outcome suggests Dr Anil Gupta, known ophthalmologist of the state.