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Visual loss from choroidal ischemia
Insights
Severe hypertension and other systemic diseases can cause choroidal vascular disturbances leading to visual loss. While some patients experienced permanent vision impairment, others fully recovered normal vision.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Nephrology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Choroidal vascular abnormalities can lead to significant visual impairment.
- Systemic conditions are often implicated in ocular vascular diseases.
Abstract:
Six patients with visual loss showed decreased perfusion of the choroid during fluorescein angiography. The most commonly associated systemic abnormality in these patients was severe hypertension. Other associated diseases included toxemia of pregnancy, renal failure, systemic lupus erythematosus, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Two patients had permanently decreased vision in one or both eyes whereas the other four regained normal vision. Known anatomic and physiologic differences between the retinal and choroidal vessels explained the pronounced choroidal vascular disturbances in the presence of minimal or no observed retinal vascular abnormalities in these patients.