It is commonly caused by lifestyle choices that include eating too many fatty foods and not getting enough exercise. The condition usually doesn’t cause symptoms, and people find out through a blood test. However, on occasion, there may be signs.
According to Cleveland Clinichaving high cholesterol could lead to retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
People who experience this will notice “painless” blurry vision or vision loss in one eye.
It occurs when a blood clot blocks the vein.
The clinic explains: “Sometimes it happens because the veins in the eye are too narrow.
“It is more likely to occur in people with diabetes and possibly high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, or other health problems that affect blood flow.”
He says that the symptoms of RVO can be “subtle” in some cases.
“Symptoms of retinal vein occlusion range from subtle to very obvious”He says.
“There is painless blurred vision or loss of vision.
“It almost always occurs in only one eye.
“At first, the blurred vision or vision loss may be mild, but it gets worse over the next few hours or days.
“Sometimes there is a complete loss of vision almost immediately.”
There is no way to unblock the retinal veins, but doctors can treat some of the related health problems.
The clinic says: “Vision can return in some eyes that have had a retinal vein occlusion.
“About a third have some improvement, about a third stay the same and about a third improve gradually, but it may take a year or more to know the final result.”
Some of the treatments include anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs, focal laser therapy, and pan-retinal photocoagulation therapy.
There are two types of cholesterol found in the blood, often referred to as “good” and “bad” cholesterol.
Having “good” cholesterol, known as high-density lipoprotein, makes you less likely to have heart problems or stroke
Whereas “bad” cholesterol or low-density lipoproteins put you at higher risk for this.
To lower cholesterol levels, the NHS advises:
- Eat less saturated fat
- Do more exercise
- Give up smoking
- Reduce alcohol consumption.