Types and symptoms of retinal angiopathy

The initial retinal angiopathy is the first stage of the disease. In many cases, angiopathy occurs in this time interval without any symptoms that are noticeable to the patient. But soon, with the progression of the disease, there is the appearance of peculiar "flies", dark spots before the eyes, light flashes and so on. But the visual acuity still remains normal, and when examining the fundus, changes in the eye tissues are still not noticeable.

We can say that at the first stage of the disease all the processes can be reversed, that is, to make the vessels of the eyes restored. At the same time, the structure of the eye tissues will not be disturbed, and the visual acuity will remain normal, the same as before the illness.

To this end, it is necessary to start treatment in time for both the vascular problems themselves and the underlying disease that caused this serious complication. Only in this case, at the initial stage of the process, it is possible to stop the progression of negative changes in the eyes.

All of the above concerns cases of the disease caused by hypertension. With diabetic angiopathy, which is provoked by diabetes, even at the initial stage, the processes of vascular disruption in the eyes become irreversible.

Angiopathy of the vessels of the retina happens three degrees.

Angiopathy of the retina of both eyes

Since angiopathy is a consequence of other systemic diseases of the body and affects blood vessels throughout the body, it is almost always observed in both eyes of a person.

Angiopathy of the retina of both eyes is a violation of the structure and functioning of the vessels, which lead to various problems with eyes and eyesight, depending on the degree of the disease itself. There may be progressive myopia or blindness, as well as glaucoma and cataracts of the eyes.

Causes and symptoms of the disease, which can diagnose the disease have been described in previous sections. Also for vascular problems in both eyes is characterized by a division into diabetic, hypertonic, traumatic, hypotonic and juvenile, which are also encountered with the case of retinal vascular disease of one eye. In this case, treatment of this problem is also associated, first of all, with the improvement of the general condition of a person and getting rid of the underlying disease. Of course, it is important and symptomatic local treatment, which will maintain the state of the eye vessels in some stability, not allowing irreversible changes to occur.

[1], [2], [3], [4]

Retina angiopathy 1 degree

In hypertensive disease, several stages of angiopathy are distinguished, which were caused by problems with high blood pressure. This classification is due to the degree of damage to the vessels of the eyes, which are observed in this complication. There are three stages of the disease - the first, second and third. To find out at what stage the disease is located, it is possible only at an ophthalmological examination of the patient's fundus.

The very process of vascular changes in hypertensive disease is characterized by the widening of the veins of the fundus, as they are filled with blood. The veins begin to wriggle, and the surface of the eyeball is covered with small pinpoint hemorrhages. Over time, hemorrhages become more frequent, and the retina begins to become turbid.

The first degree of angiopathy is characterized by the following changes in the eyes, which are called physiological:

• arteries located in the retina begin to narrow,
• veins of the retina begin to expand,
• the size and width of the vessels becomes uneven,
• an increase in the tortuosity of the vessels.

Angiopathy of the first degree is a stage of the disease, in which the processes are still reversible. If the very cause of the complication is eliminated-hypertensive disease, the vessels in the eyes gradually come to normal, and the disease recedes.

Moderate angiopathy of the retina

Moderate angiopathy of the retina is the second stage of the disease that occurs after the first stage.

With angiopathy of the second degree, the appearance of organic changes in the eyes is characteristic:

• the vessels more and more begin to differ in width and size,
• the tortuosity of blood vessels also continues to increase,
• by color and structure, the vessels begin to resemble a light copper wire, because the central light strips that are located along the vessels,
• with further progression of narrowing of the light strip, the vessels resemble the resemblance of silver wire,
• the appearance of thrombosis in the vessels of the retina,
• there are hemorrhages,
• characterized by the emergence of microaneurysms and newly formed vessels that are located in the region of the optic disc,
• the eye bottom during examination is pale, in some cases even its waxy shade is observed,
• it is possible to change the field of view,
• in some cases, there are violations of light sensitivity,
• there is blurred vision,
• visual acuity begins to appear, myopia appears.

About the first two have already been told in the previous sections. Now we will touch the third and most severe stage of the disease.

3 degree of retinal angiopathy

At the given degree of disease the following symptoms and manifestations are observed:

• the appearance of hemorrhages in the retina,
• the appearance of edemas of the retina,
• appearance of foci with white color in the retina of the eye,
• the appearance of fuzziness, which determines the boundaries of the eye nerve,
• the appearance of edema of the optic nerve,
• severe deterioration of visual acuity,
• the appearance of blindness, that is, complete loss of vision.

[5], [6], [7]

Hypertensive retinal angiopathy

Hypertension is a disease characterized by periodic or constant increases in blood pressure. One of the main causes of the disease is narrowing of small vessels and capillaries in the entire vascular system, which leads to difficulty in the flow of blood. And so the blood begins to press on the walls of the vessels, which leads to an increase in blood pressure, as the heart exerts more effort to push blood through the vascular bed.

Hypertension causes various complications in the human body, for example, heart diseases, brain, kidney and so on. Not an exception and vascular diseases of the eyes, namely, the retina, one of which is and angiopia.

With this disease, the veins begin to branch and expand, there are frequent pinpoint hemorrhages that are directed into the eyeball. There may also be a clouding of the eyeballs of one or both eyes.

If you take actions aimed at treating the underlying problem and achieve good results and a stable condition, hypertensive angiopathy of the retina will go away by itself. If you start the disease, it can lead to serious visual impairment and other problems with the eyes.

Angiopathy of the retina by the hypertonic type

With this type of disease is characterized by deterioration of visual acuity, expressed in the clouding of vision by one or both eyes. Also, myopia may develop, which progresses with the course of worsening of the patient's condition in hypertension.

Angiopathy of the retina according to the hypertonic type arises as a complication from the existing hypertension in a person. With this disease, pressure on the walls of the vessels increases so much that it leads to problems in various organs of the human body.

Exceptions to the eyes, which begin to experience difficulty in functioning, are no exception. Especially, it concerns the retina, in the vessels and tissues of which degenerative changes begin to occur.

[8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13],

Hypotonic retinal angiopathy

Hypotension, that is, a strong reduction in blood pressure, is observed in a disease called arterial hypertension. At the same time, the pressure drops so much that this process becomes tangible to the person and leads to a deterioration of well-being.

There are two types of arterial hypertension - acute and chronic. In an acute condition, it is possible to observe manifestations of collapse, in which the tone of the vessels sharply decreases. There may be a shock, which is characterized by paralytic vasodilation. All these processes are accompanied by a decrease in the supply of oxygen to the brain, which reduces the quality of functioning of the vital organs of man. In some cases, hypoxia occurs, which requires immediate medical attention. And in this case the determining factor is not the pressure indices in the vessels, but the rate of its decrease.

Hypotonic angiopathy of the retina is a consequence of arterial hypertension and manifests itself in reduced retina of the retina. As a result, the blood vessels begin to overflow, which reduces the rate of its flow. In the future, blood vessels begin to form blood clots due to blood stagnation. This process is characterized by a sensation of pulsation, which is observed in the vessels of the eyes.

Angiopathy of the retina by hypotonic type

Usually, this type of complication disappears with proper treatment of the underlying disease. The tone of the vessels of the whole body improves, which affects the condition of the eye vessels. The blood begins to move faster, blood clots stop forming, which affects the improvement of the blood supply to the retina, eyeball and so on.

Angiopathy of the retina according to the hypotonic type is caused by the basic human disease - hypotension. In this case, a decrease in the tone of the vessels of the entire body, as well as, in particular, the eye, is observed. Therefore, the blood begins to stagnate in the vessels, which leads to the appearance of thrombi in these vessels. Thrombosis of capillaries and venous vessels causes various hemorrhages in the retina and eyeball. What leads to visual impairment, as well as other problems with the eyes.

[14], [15], [16]

Angiopathy of the retina by mixed type

With this kind of disease, pathological changes in the eye vessels begin to appear, which are caused by dysfunctions in regulating their activity from the autonomic nervous system.

Angiopathy of the retina by mixed type is a disease of the eye, which is caused by systemic diseases of a general nature, affecting the vessels of the whole organism. In this case, capillaries and other vessels that are located in the fundus are subjected to disturbances in the first place.

This type of vascular function disorder can lead to very serious consequences for human vision, for example, to its deterioration, as well as loss.

This form of complication occurs in all age groups of patients, since systemic diseases are characteristic for any age. But there was an increase in the incidence of angiopathy in persons who had passed the 30-year age limit.

Usually, the state of the retinal vessels begins to return to normal with the treatment of the underlying disease. This applies not only to the vascular system in the eyes, but also to the circulation in the whole body. In this case, treatment should be carried out in a comprehensive manner, taking into account therapeutic and ophthalmologic diagnoses.

[17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22]

Dystonic angiopathy of the retina

For this type of complication, serious visual impairments are characteristic that can manifest themselves in the active development of myopia. In some cases, even complete loss of vision is observed. Problems with eye vessels and vision impairment usually concern people after thirty years.

Dystonic angiopathy of the retina is a complication of another pathology that takes place in the human body. In this case, this dysfunction affects all the blood vessels of the circulatory system, eye vessels also suffer no less, and even, sometimes and more.

The patient's condition is characterized by such symptoms as the appearance of the veil before the eyes, the presence of pain or discomfort in the eyes, the appearance of light flashes in the eyes, deterioration of visual acuity, the appearance of local hemorrhages that occur in the eyeball.

When observing such symptoms, a person must necessarily consult an ophthalmologist in order to find out the cause of vision problems and also to select the appropriate therapy package.

[23], [24], [25]

Diabetic retinal angiopathy

Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases caused by disorders in the endocrine system. Insulin hormone deficiency is observed, which takes an important part in regulating metabolic processes in the body, for example, in the exchange of glucose, and so on. But not the only dysfunction caused by this disease. Violated not only glucose metabolism, but all kinds of metabolic processes - fat, protein, carbohydrate, mineral and water-salt ones suffer.

Diabetic angiopathy of the retina arises as a complication against the background of diabetes mellitus. Blood vessels are affected by the neglect of the disease and its effect on all tissues of the body. Not only small capillaries, located in the eyes, suffer, but also larger vessels all over the human body. As a consequence, all the vessels narrow, and the blood begins to flow much more slowly. As a result, the vessels are clogged, leading to problems in the tissues that they need to supply with nutrients and oxygen. All this causes disturbances in the metabolism in the eyes, namely in the retina, which is most sensitive to vascular dysfunctions. In this situation, visual impairments, the appearance of nearsightedness and even blindness are possible.

[26], [27], [28],

Background retinal angiopathy

The causes that caused dystrophic changes in the retina are the following problems: poisoning of the body, the presence of arterial hypertension, the appearance of autoimmune vasculitis, genetically caused problems with the walls of the vessels, eye injuries and cervical spine, various blood diseases, the presence of diabetes, constant working conditions with high vision voltage, a high rate of intracranial pressure.

Background angiopathy of the retina got its name due to the fact that it occurs against the background of the appearance of various diseases. In this case, there are changes concerning the walls of the vessels that affect their normal functioning. There is a violation of blood circulation in the eyes, which becomes a chronic dysfunction. Such changes in the vessels become the causes of persistent visual impairment, which in many cases are irreversible. Some patients experience complete loss of vision.

[29], [30], [31], [32], [33]

Venous retinal angiopathy

The blood begins to flow more slowly, and sometimes stagnates, which leads to clogging of blood vessels, the appearance of blood clots, and the appearance of hemorrhages in the eyeball. The veins also begin to change shape, expand and coil along the entire length. In the future, changes in the tissue structure begin to occur in the retina.

Venous retinal angiopathy is a complication of systemic diseases of the body, which manifests itself in the violation of venous blood flow.

With such problems with the eye veins, the patient can establish various visual impairments. For example, there are opacities in the eyes, weak or constantly progressing myopia. To eliminate problems with the eye veins, it is necessary to engage in therapy of the underlying disease in combination with the treatment of vascular disorders themselves.

Symptoms of this type of angiopathy are observed in hypertensive disease, which caused a similar complication in the vessels of the eyes.

Traumatic angiopathy of the retina

Any trauma, even if at first sight insignificant, can lead to serious complications and health problems. For example, injuries of the cervical spine, brain trauma, sharp squeezing in the chest often lead to complications in the eye.

Traumatic angiopathy of the retina is characterized by a narrowing of the vessels in the eyes due to compression of the vessels of the cervical region. Also, the consequences of injuries are increased intracranial pressure, which can become permanent and affect the tone of the vessels of the retina. Subsequently, the patient has visual impairment, which is expressed in his constant and steady deterioration, called progressive myopia.

The mechanism of this complication is as follows: sudden and sudden squeezing of the vessels of the body leads to spasm of the arterioles, which causes hypoxia of the retina of the eyes, during which the transudate emerges. Some time after receiving the injury, there is an appearance of organic changes in the retina, which accompany frequent hemorrhages.

With this disease often lesions are not only in the retina, but also atrophic changes in the optic nerve.

Contusions cause changes in the eyes, which are called Berlin's clouding of the retina. In this case, there are edemas that affect the deep retinal layers. There are also signs of subchoroidal hemorrhage, in which the transudate emerges.

Summarizing, we can say that in the traumatic form of angiopathy, the retinal shaking occurs. This resulted in damage to the optic nerve, namely, its thin trellis plate. Damage to the plate occurs because sharp strokes provoke it to move back, which causes hemorrhages in the retina and the appearance of edema in the optic nerve disc.