The carotid artery transports blood from the heart all the way to the brain. Take note that there are 2 carotid arteries on both sides of the neck. After some time, these arteries can end up blocked with plaque if the individual is diagnosed with coronary artery disease.
The obstruction of these arteries lowers the flow of blood to the head as well as the eyes and even causing obstructions in the veins and eye arteries if the plaque or clots detaches from the arterial wall. The presence of the plaque and reduced blood flow can trigger visual issues.
What is ocular ischemic syndrome?
The syndrome is brought about by the reduced blood flow to the eye and mainly affects individuals 50 years and older. Generally, only one eye is affected. The vision is affected, and the pain is present.
The eye pressure might also be elevated along with swelling in the macula or central region of vision in the retina which causes distorted or blurry vision.
Retinal vein occlusion due to carotid artery obstruction
Retinal vein occlusion is brought about by obstruction in the vein from plaque or from reduced blood flow to the eye. The occlusion can involve the central retinal vein or the branching veins.
A jam in the veins functions as a twist in the hose where the artery or vein engorges and often seeps behind the blockage.
Retinal artery occlusion
A retinal artery occlusion is harder to treat than an occluded vein. The signs of an occlusion are abrupt, significant, painless loss of vision that arises in the peripheral vision if within a branch and centrally in case the obstruction is in the central artery.