Eye floaters and heart disease An increase in floaters can occasionally indicate an eye condition called retinal vein occlusion, which is linked to heart disease. A vein behind the eye gets blocked (occluded) in this condition, causing a reduction in vision.
The arrangement of blood vessels at the back of the eye, known as the retina vasculature, is closely connected to the health of your heart. That means issues we see in the eye can be directly linked to health problems with the heart and the vessels in your body.
High blood pressure and vision disturbance
Increased pressure in the eyes can damage the blood vessels and surrounding tissues over time, leading to various vision changes, including blurring, eye floaters and seeing double.
Puffy eyes.
If your eyes are consistently swollen, especially in the morning, take note. This has been linked with kidney and heart disease. Because puffy eyes are linked with many other conditions, kidney disease and heart disease are often overlooked.
Signs of heart disease in eyes
Visible yellowish deposits under the skin around the eyes, known as xanthelasma, can indicate high cholesterol levels that could cause heart disease. They are deposits of cholesterol that collect under the skin on the eyelids and sometimes elsewhere on the body (Source: AAD).
Most of the time floaters are harmless. However, they can be a symptom of a tear in the retina. (The retina is the layer in the back of the eye.) If you notice a sudden increase in floaters or if you see floaters along with flashes of light in your side vision, this may be a symptom of a retinal tear or detachment.
According to Durga Borkar, MD, a retina specialist and retina surgeon at Duke Eye Center, a sudden increase in eye floaters may signal a retinal tear, a detached retina, or another serious medical concern that can threaten your vision.
If you notice a sudden increase in eye floaters, contact an eye specialist immediately — especially if you also see light flashes or lose your vision. These can be symptoms of an emergency that requires prompt attention.
Characterised by a lack of warning signs, high cholesterol is often described as a silent condition. However, leaving your levels undetected can put your cardiovascular health at risk. One indicator of high cholesterol in your blood could be eye floaters.
What is an Eye Stroke? An eye stroke, or anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, is a dangerous and potentially debilitating condition that occurs from a lack of sufficient blood flow to the tissues located in the front part of the optic nerve.
Eye floaters – those little spots, lines, or shapes that flow across your vision – aren't usually a big deal. There's a decent chance everyone will notice some on occasion and, while they can be incredibly annoying, they typically don't signal a major problem.
Can eye floaters fluctuate from day to day or throughout the day? Yes, they can vary in different light conditions and can appear more prominent against light backgrounds. Some people notice floaters more when they are tired or at the end of the day.
"Sudden onset of new floaters with or without flashes should prompt a patient to seek evaluation by an ophthalmologist. The presence of a peripheral shadow may indicate the development of a retinal detachment."
The symptoms of an eye stroke usually don't include pain. The first and main symptom is usually a sudden loss of vision or change in vision in one eye that may include: Floaters and flashes. Blurred vision.
Eye floaters are caused by deterioration of the vitreous humor which often happens as people age. In a stressful situation the human body produces a hormone known as epinephrine. Epinephrine, otherwise known as adrenaline, causes your pupils to dilate so that the world around you is seen more clearly.
“If you have floaters plus flashes and a loss of side vision, it's an urgent matter and you need to see an eye specialist or go to the emergency room immediately,” Dr. Newman said.
Stage I is considered “pre-heart failure.” High-risk individuals include patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and coronary artery disease. A family history of alcohol abuse, rheumatic fever, cardiotoxic drug therapy, or cardiomyopathy can increase your risk.
Typical signs of heart failure include: Breathlessness or Shortness of Breath (Dyspnea) When the heart begins to fail, blood backs up in the veins attempting to carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. As fluid pools in the lungs, it interferes with normal breathing.