Angiopathy of the retina: how dangerous and how to prevent?

Angiopathy of the retina is a disease manifested in the change of the vascular eye system, namely its capillaries and other vessels. This problem is caused by disorders of regulation of vascular tone from the autonomic nervous system. In this case, there are difficulties with the inflow and outflow of blood from the body, which disrupts its normal operation and leads to negative changes in the eyes.

The aforementioned vascular problems are not independent diseases. It's easier to say that this dysfunction occurs when the blood vessels of the whole body are in poor condition. Retinal vessels suffer in the same way as the rest of the capillaries, veins and arteries, therefore, with this state of the vascular system, changes begin to develop, for example, in the retina of the eyes. Therefore, the term "angiopathy" applies exclusively to problems with the eyes caused by vascular disorders.

This dysfunction of the body does not depend on the age and sex of the patient. It is diagnosed in children, adults, women and men. But, nevertheless, the certain regularity is revealed: after thirty years the given problem meets much more often, than at young or young age.

People who suspect that they have possible problems with their eyes are interested, but what does retinal angiopathy mean?

On reception at the expert-ophthalmologist it is possible to observe the following picture. The eye bottom, which is examined by a doctor, is not normal. The doctor ascertains the vascular changes in this part of the eye. In this case, there are violations in the lumens of blood vessels or their moves. Vessels may be in different states: be narrowed or dilated, convoluted or straightened, full-blooded or with weak filling and so on. The state of the vascular system in the eyes depends on the cause that led to these changes.

In most cases, the development of the disease occurs in both eyes, although there are exceptions to this rule.

ICD-10 code

The world health system provides for a unified classification of diseases, which is called the International Classification of Diseases. This system was developed by the World Health Organization or abbreviated - WHO. After a certain period of time, the classification system is revised and adjusted depending on the changes revealed in the world medical practice.

At the moment, the International Classification of Diseases of the Tenth Revision is current, which was approved in 2007. It has twenty-one sections, which contain subsections with codes of diseases and disease states.

Angiopathy of the retina according to the ICD classifier belongs to the group of diseases called "Diseases of the eye and its adnexa", No. H00 - H59 and belongs to the seventh class in order from the beginning of the list. The necessary diagnosis should be found in the subsection "Diseases of the vascular system and retina", No. H30 - H36. It is important to know that the term is generalizing, and when the diagnosis is made more precise, the names of the diseases are used directly from this section of the classifier or are referred to the group "Other diseases" from the same subsection.

Causes of retinal angiopathy

The causes of angiopathy of the retina are fairly prosaic, although they are serious. These include:

• Problems in the cervical spine associated with osteochondrosis.
• Presence of traumatic eye injuries.
• The consequences of increased intracranial pressure.
• Consequences of smoking tobacco.
• There are violations of the regulation of the tone of the walls of blood vessels, which are produced with the help of the autonomic nervous system.
• Some diseases of the blood.
• Production activity on harmful kinds of enterprises.
• Presence of diabetes mellitus.
• Reaching a certain age, in which irreversible changes begin in the body.
• Presence in the anamnesis of an arterial hypertensia.
• Intoxication of the body.
• Some features of the structure of the walls of blood vessels, which are genetic, for example, with telangiectasia.
• The presence of systemic vasculitis, which are of an autoimmune nature.

If to summarize the above list, then problems with the vessels in the retina are various injuries, vascular diseases of the whole organism, as well as systemic diseases of an autoimmune and metabolic nature. In addition, an important role is played by intoxication of the body with various poisonous substances, heavy metals and so on.

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Symptoms of retinal angiopathy

It is necessary to know the symptoms of retinal angiopathy in order to detect this disease in time. The signs of the disease include:

1. Presence of visual impairment.
2. The appearance of blurred vision, a peculiar veil or fog before the eyes.
3. The loss of vision.
4. There are periodic bleeding from the nose.
5. The appearance of pinpoint hemorrhages, which are localized in the eyeball.
6. The observation of a steady progression of myopia.
7. Detection of retinal dystrophy.
8. The appearance of spots or dark dots that appear when inspecting objects.
9. Occurrence of periodic light flashes in the eyes, manifested as a kind of "lightning".
10. The appearance of discomfort and pain in the eyes.

More details about the types and symptoms of retinal angiopathy can be found here.

What is the risk of retinal angiopathy?

To a person who received a disappointing diagnosis from an ophthalmologist, it is useful to know, and what is the risk of retinal angiopathy? And take enhanced measures to restore their own health.

This state of the vessels can lead (and leads) to serious consequences. First of all, the normal functioning of the eye is disturbed, which is caused by problems with ensuring its normal nutrition. Violations in the free blood flow lead to its stagnation, as well as the inability for the eyes to get a sufficient dose of oxygen and other nutrients. The products of disintegration are also not deduced regularly with the blood flow: because of the poor functioning of the vessels, difficulties arise with this.

Therefore, a patient who has encountered a change in the vascular system of the eye can additionally get the following diseases:

• Progressing myopia.
• Dystrophy of the retina of the eye.
• The appearance of blurred vision.
• Possible development of blindness in one or both eyes.

It is not necessary that these problems will arise in humans. But, as a rule, most people do not monitor their health, and with a serious diagnosis does not take measures to strengthen their own well-being. Therefore, it is possible to assume with a high degree of probability the development of one of the above problems in a patient with vascular openings of the retina.

Diagnosis of retinal angiopathy

Diagnosis of retinal angiopathy is an important process that can be entrusted only to a qualified ophthalmologist. Because there is a possible error in the correct diagnosis.

First of all, the doctor examines the patient and finds out the nature of his complaints. Symptoms related to the retina of the eye and the general condition of the patient should be identified. The retina is examined using the ophthalmoscopy procedure .

To clarify the diagnosis of ophthalmologists use various additional techniques: ultrasound scanning of the vessels of the eye and X-ray studies. Ultrasound scanning allows you to determine the speed of blood circulation in the vessels, as well as the current state of the walls of the eye vessels. X-ray examination is carried out in order to obtain data on how vascular the vessels are. And this procedure is carried out using an X-ray substance.

The third diagnostic examination can be the use of magnetic resonance imaging, with which you can find out the aspects of the structure and condition of the soft tissues of the eyes.

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Treatment of retinal angiopathy

Treatment of angiopathy of the retina, first of all, is to eliminate the underlying disease that caused such a serious complication. In most cases, with the normalization of the patient's condition, eye problems go away by themselves, without requiring additional therapy.

More information about the treatment of retinal angiopathy you can read here.

Prophylaxis of retinal angiopathy

Prophylaxis of retinal angiopathy consists of the following procedures:

• First of all, it is necessary to begin therapy of the underlying disease, which caused vascular changes in the eyes.
• In addition, it is necessary to monitor the correct and sufficient lighting of the workplace.
• Do not read in transport in poor lighting, as well as at home with insufficient light.
• With constant work at the computer, you need to take breaks. Ideally, when a person works for forty-five minutes, and the next fifteen minutes rest.
• It is important in between the load of vision to rest your eyes - lie in a horizontal position, relax and close your eyes. The same thing in the absence of a bed can be done on a chair.
• It is important two to three times a day, and with computer work and more often, do gymnastics for the eyes. It is also useful massage of the eyeball and acupressure.
• It is necessary to monitor your pressure and not allow it to rise or fall excessively. To do this, you need to regularly do physical exercises, engage in respiratory gymnastics, walk in the fresh air, walk a lot, and also include foods that strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
• Twice a year to do a check of the level of glucose in the capillaries.
• Watch your food! There is enough, but not much, to avoid a large number of sweets, flour and salted foods, fatty and fried foods, as well as other unhealthy foods.
• Pregnancy needs to be planned, before it to improve your health and eliminate sources of chronic infections. Especially, it concerns caries, tonsillitis, bronchitis and so on.
• With a history of such diseases as diabetes, hypertension, osteochondrosis, you need to resort to preventive treatment twice a year. It is important to use complex therapy with the use of Trental, Actovegin, Vinpocetine, ATP and B vitamins.

Prognosis of retinal angiopathy

The prognosis of retinal angiopathy depends on the cause that caused the complication, and also on the stage at which the treatment of the pathological process in the eyes is begun.

• In diabetic form it is important to maintain the patient's condition and monitor blood glucose levels. Then the vascular disorders can not progress, and the state of the retina is stabilized.
• At a hypertonic kind it is necessary to take measures to stabilization of a blood pressure. And also lead a healthy lifestyle that helps minimize the manifestations of hypertension.
• In traumatic form it is important to cure the effects of trauma and periodically undergo maintenance vascular therapy. In this case, angiopathy will stop progressing and the patient's condition will improve.
• When hypotonic angiopathy is important to take measures to increase blood pressure and treatment of hypertension. Only in this case the patient can not worry about the deterioration of the eyes.
• In the youthful form, unfortunately, the patient's condition will constantly deteriorate. To slow down the progression of the disease can be the use of complex therapy, which must be carried out regularly. Also important is a healthy lifestyle and adherence to the recommendations of specialists.

If you do not take any measures to treat the underlying disease, as well as to improve the condition of the vessels, then it is possible to progress myopia up to complete loss of vision.

In the mild and moderate stages of the underlying disease, complete relief from the symptoms of angiopathy and restoration of health, including visual acuity, can be achieved with timely treatment.

Vascular complication, which is aggravated during pregnancy, can lead to deterioration of the eyes. And with childbirth, complete loss of vision is possible. But it is important to remember that the preparation for childbirth, a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy, a confident psychological attitude, as well as the correct behavior in childbirth, help to keep eyes at the same level as before conception. Future mothers should know that to maintain vision in childbirth it is important to be able to relax and remove muscle clamps in order to provide an anesthetic for labor and no pressure on the vessels of the eyes. Although, of course, in very delicate cases, to avoid severe complications, a caesarean section is indicated.

Usually, in most pregnant women after childbirth, the symptoms of angiopathy go away by themselves. And only a few women in need receive special treatment.

In newborns, the diagnosis is usually made erroneously. And when you reach, for example, one-year-old age is completely removed.

When the child's form of the disease, when the therapy measures are taken on time and correctly, most often, the problem recedes forever, and the vision is completely restored.

Retina angiopathy and the army

Young people who have been diagnosed with retinal angiopathy are not always unfit for military service. The army does not consist of fully healthy people, with some mild health dysfunctions, it is not supposed to receive a withdrawal from service in the armed forces.

In a number of cases, the state of the eyes of young men does not imply a deterioration of vision under such physical and psychological stresses that are mandatory in the army. Therefore, the decision of the medical commission should be made on the fact, in each specific case. This takes into account the nature of the disease that triggered the complication, as well as its stage.

Angiopathy of the retina is not always a sentence, in which vision inevitably worsens without the chances of recovery. It is important that when unpleasant symptoms appear, call specialists in time and begin proper treatment. In this case, you can achieve an improvement in the patient's condition and complete recovery of vision.