Retinal Artery Occlusion

Retinal artery occlusion is the blockage of the vessels that carry blood to the retina, the layer of the eye responsible for capturing images; when the flow is interrupted, the tissues stop receiving oxygen.

Common symptoms: It usually causes sudden, painless loss of vision, total or partial, in a single eye. Because of its sudden nature, it requires medical attention without delay.

When to see a doctor? With a sudden loss of sight, the indicated course is to seek care immediately.

Which specialist treats it? The ophthalmologist evaluates the retina and ocular circulation, and because the problem may be related to the health of the blood vessels, the vascular surgeon also takes part in the workup. A timely professional evaluation is key in these cases.