An eye stroke is very serious, sometimes leading to permanent blindness or stroke in the brain.

An “eye stroke” is the interruption of blood flow to the retina or optic nerve. Causes of an eye stroke include retinal artery occlusion, retinal vein occlusion, and ischemic optic neuropathy. Depending on the cause of the “eye stroke,” this diagnosis can be vision and life-threatening. If you are experiencing sudden vision loss in one or both eyes, seek immediate evaluation with an ophthalmologist. Several treatments for eye stroke are available, including eye injections and steroid medication. In some cases, patients may be sent to the emergency room due to a high risk of stroke in the brain.