If you experience sudden blindness (total or near-total vision loss) in one eye, then it is a medical emergency. It can be a sign of a severe problem like a stroke. So, learn what causes sudden vision loss in one eye and how you can treat it in this article. Visit our clinic or check our website at https://www.ophthalmologybrooklyn.com to see all the services that can help you manage your eye condition.

Causes

The most probable cause of blindness in one eye is a reduction in blood flow in carotid arteries, which bring blood to your eyes and brain from the heart through the neck. However, sometimes plaque builds up on the walls of these blood vessels reducing the amount of blood that can pass through them.

Sometimes it can completely block blood flow. This narrowing or blocking of blood vessels that bring blood to your eye causes temporary blindness. In case you develop a blood clot, it can cause blockage.

A blood clot is a gel-like clump of blood that turns from liquid to a semi-solid state. If a blood clot blocks your retinal artery, it either leads to branch retinal artery occlusion or a central retinal artery occlusion.

Besides reduction in blood flow in the carotid arteries, here are several conditions that also cause temporary vision loss, including:

• Migraine headaches
• Acute angle-closure glaucoma
• A head injury
• A brain tumor
• Papilledema
• Optic neuritis
• Polyarteritis nodosa
• Sickle cell anemia
• Elevated plasma viscosity

Vasospasms may also cause temporary vision loss. This occurs when restriction in blood flow comes from a sudden tightening of the eye’s blood vessels. Vasospasms may be caused by:

• Strenuous exercise
• Sexual intercourse
• Long-distance running

Symptoms

If you’re experiencing vision loss in one eye, you may experience the following:

• A headache along with vision loss.
• Sudden and painless loss of vision in one eye.
• Trouble seeing after a head injury.
• Difficulty focusing
• Painful sensitivity to light.
• Dry, burning, swollen, or encrusted eyes.
• Not seeing clearly in dim light.
• Blurred vision or double vision
• Change in eye color
• See the halos effect around objects
• Blank spots in the field of vision

Loss of vision can happen in different durations such as:

• Happens suddenly and unexpectedly.
• Start gradually but grow increasingly worse.
• Resolve within an hour or less in some cases.

Any type of vision loss needs to be addressed by visiting a doctor.

Treatment options

Treatment of temporary vision loss in one eye starts by identifying the underlying medical condition. For example, if a blood clot triggers the blind eye, your doctor may be concerned about the possibility of a stroke and may recommend:

• Blood thinning medication like warfarin or aspirin to make your blood thin.
• Medications that lower your blood pressure such as beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor antagonists, calcium channel blockers, and thiazides surgery such as carotid endarterectomy, to clear the plaque in your carotid arteries.

Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes, including:

• Reduce your intake of high-fat and processed foods
• Increasing your daily exercise.
• Reduce stress

When to contact a doctor?

If you notice these symptoms along with vision loss, then you should seek immediate medical attention:

• Severe headache
• Difficulty speaking
• Facial drooping
• Loss of muscle control on one side of the body
• Severe eye pain

It could be signs of a stroke or another serious medical condition.

Vision loss in one eye often happens due to reduced blood flow to the eye from the heart. It’s generally a symptom of an underlying condition. The doctor can identify the condition affecting your eye and recommend an appropriate treatment plan. If you experience sudden blindness in one eye, seek emergency medical assistance. In many cases, early diagnosis and treatment can prevent permanent blindness.

So, if you experience partial or full vision loss in one eye, then visit our ophthalmology clinic in Brooklyn to get a professional medical diagnosis and treatment. At Doral Health and Wellness Ophthalmology Center, our eye doctors can help you recover from all types of eye conditions and diseases. To schedule an appointment, please call us at 1-347-384-5690 or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212. You can also visit our website at https://www.ophthalmologybrooklyn.com.