Causes of Retinal Hemorrhage
At Retina Associates, we provide a comprehensive range of treatment options for retinal conditions of all types. This includes retinal hemorrhages, which refers to abnormal bleeding within the delicate blood vessels of the retina. When retinal hemorrhages occur, symptoms range from the undetectable to severe vision problems. Vision problems are often temporary, but in some instances, they can be permanent.
If you are experiencing vision problems of any kind, it is important that you seek treatment from professional, experienced eye doctors. In the case of retinal hemorrhages, surgical intervention is often not necessary, especially in mild cases. However, in more severe cases, the retinal experts of Retina Associates may determine that surgery is necessary to sealing off damaged blood vessels and preventing further damage to the eye and risk of permanent vision loss.
We invite you to read about the possible causes of retinal hemorrhage, provided by our Kansas City, MO retinal specialists. If you have recently suffered any of these causes, and you are currently experiencing a sudden lack of visual acuity or the presence of spots in your visual field, please schedule an appointment at Retina Associates right away.
The Most Common Causes of Retinal Hemorrhage
There are several possible causes of retinal hemorrhages, but by far the most common is a blow to the head. Such a blow could occur directly to the head or in the form of a jolting action that causes the head to snap forward or backward with such force that the retina is damaged, resulting in its blood vessels starting to bleed. Retinal hemorrhaging often occurs as a result of car accidents, sports accidents, falls from high locations, trip or slip and fall accidents, violent attacks, and similar traumatic events.
Other common causes of retinal hemorrhage include:
- Diseases that affect a person’s circulatory system, including high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as eye diseases related to diabetes.
- Central serous retinopathy, a condition marked by the buildup of fluid under the retina, causing visual impairment, most often temporary.
- Retinal vein occlusion, a blockage of either the main vein or the branch veins that carry blood away from the retina.
When these factors appear in combination, more severe retinal hemorrhages can occur. For example, someone who develops a retinal hemorrhage as a result of retinal vein occlusion may experience a more severe occurrence if he or she also has diabetes or high blood pressure.
While some instances of retinal hemorrhage will resolve themselves, especially with healthy lifestyle changes, others will require surgical intervention. Again, if any of these potential causes of retinal hemorrhage apply to you, and you have experienced recent and sudden changes in the clarity of your vision or the appearance of spots in your visual field, it is imperative that you schedule an appointment at Retina Associates immediately.
Learn More about the Causes of Retinal Hemorrhage
To learn more about the causes of retinal hemorrhage, or to schedule your initial consultation with our retinal experts, please contact Retina Associates today.