Fundus angiopathy is a pathological disorder in the blood vessels of the eyes, provoked by a disorder of nervous regulation. This disorder is not classified as an independent disease, but only as a symptomatic manifestation of other pathological processes in which blood vessels are affected.
Violation of the function of blood vessels and a change in their walls can lead to visual impairment, including retinal dystrophy, myopia, blurred vision. As a result of the course of the disease, death of tissues receiving blood from the affected vessels can occur. In the advanced stage, the disease can provoke blindness.
It is important to determine the presence of the disease in a timely manner, to diagnose and treat it, in order to prevent the development of serious complications.
Features of the disease
Angiopathy (ICD 10: H35) is a pathological change in the veins and arteries that pierce the fundus. Such changes can be triggered by a deterioration in vascular tone or organic lesions.
It should be noted that angiopathy does not belong to an independent disease, but only acts as a sign of primary pathology. That is, there are certain disorders that provoke problems with blood vessels.
In the early stages, pathology is a completely reversible condition. If the cause of the lesion is timely eliminated, then retinopathy will pass on its own without additional treatment. However, if the disease is not recognized in time or treatment is not prescribed, then angiopathy will only progress over time. As a result, such a manifestation leads to a gradual loss of vision until the onset of complete blindness.
Classification
During the admission, the doctor not only makes a diagnosis, but also determines the type of angiopathy of the fundus vessels. Among the main types of such pathology, it is necessary to distinguish, such as:
- hypotonic;
- hypertensive;
- dystonic;
- mixed;
- Background
- diabetic;
- traumatic;
- venous.
Hypertensive type of fundus angiopathy is formed with prolonged hypertension, a similar pathology is provoked by blood-filled vessels. This leads to various kinds of degenerative changes in the retina. In this case, visual acuity often decreases, and a feeling of foggy appears. The condition of a person begins to gradually worsen.
Hypotonic angiopathy of the fundus occurs as a result of decreased vascular tone and stagnation of blood in them. A similar pathology provokes thrombosis of capillaries. In this case, hemorrhage in the retina and eyeball occurs. As a result of changes, vision is greatly reduced.
A mixed type of pathology is provoked by the presence of systemic diseases that affect the vessels, and the fundus of the fundus is affected first. A similar violation is mainly observed in people over 30 years old. It can lead to serious visual impairment or its complete loss. The main manifestations are the appearance of pain, veils in front of the eyes, and retinal hemorrhages.
Diabetic angiopathy of the fundus vessels occurs mainly in diabetics. Insulin deficiency in diabetes provokes impaired glucose metabolism. At the same time, blood vessels throughout the body contract and contract. The eyes are affected primarily, which manifests itself in the form of myopia and even blindness.
Background angiopathy of the eyes appears against the background of other diseases. With this type of pathology, dangerous processes of dystrophy occur in the retina. It can be provoked by traumatic lesions, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, work with constant eye strain.
Venous angiopathy occurs as a complication of other diseases associated with circulatory disorders. At the same time, blood flows much more slowly, which leads to hemorrhage and the formation of blood clots. Gradually, the veins become sinuous and somewhat enlarged. As a result, blurred vision or myopia develops.
Traumatic angiopathy begins to develop as a result of squeezing the chest, injuries to the brain, neck, and edema after contusion.
Fundus angiopathy in infants is often considered the norm. Often, such a diagnosis is made immediately after the birth of the baby. However, pathology can signal the presence of congenital neurological problems. Often, it is formed after various head injuries during difficult childbirth. At the same time, blurred eyes and the manifestation of a pronounced vascular network are noticeable.
Main reasons
Among the main causes of fundus angiopathy, it is necessary to distinguish such as:
- Hypertension.
- Diabetes.
- Vasculitis.
- Osteochondrosis.
- Injuries.
- Circulatory system diseases.
- Congenital vascular pathology.
- Elderly age.
- Atherosclerosis.
Regardless of the causes of the pathology, angiopathy of the fundus vessels develops equally and in the absence of timely treatment can lead to complete loss of vision. When injured, a violation occurs only on one side. In all other cases, angiopathy of both eyes is observed. The diabetic and hypertensive form of pathology is especially rapidly progressing.
Characteristic signs
The main danger of eye angiopathy lies in its almost asymptomatic course. Often, pathology is detected completely by accident during an examination with an ophthalmologist. When the signs become clearly visible, then this stage of the disease requires a long and expensive treatment. Be sure to consult a doctor if signs such as:
- sharp visual impairment;
- frequent redness of the eyes;
- the appearance of dots and veils in front of the eyes;
- decrease in the field of view;
- sensation of ripple;
- frequent eye diseases.
The first signs of a pathology rarely cause concern, and a person practically does not go to a doctor, so the disease continues to progress. The most common symptoms of angiopathy of the fundus of the eye, proceeding in the later stages, are, such as:
- decreased visual acuity and clarity;
- deterioration in color sensitivity;
- the appearance of dots in front of the eyes.
In the presence of systemic diseases, angiopathy can occur due to fragility of blood vessels. In this case, the patient has minor bleeding or hemorrhage.
Diagnostics
Now it is quite possible to determine the presence of pathology at the initial stage. With retinal angiopathy, the fundus is examined comprehensively, for this, methods such as:
- ophthalmoscopy;
- laser tomography;
- visometry;
- tonography
- computer perimetry.
Additionally, radiography, dopplerography, and MRI may be required. This allows you to create the optimal treatment regimen.
Angioscopy is diagnosed quite simply, it is much more difficult to detect the root cause of its occurrence. To examine the vessels of the fundus, doctors perform ophthalmoscopy, which can be direct and indirect. No special preparation is required. In some cases, the doctor will instill drops to dilate the pupil so that the fundus can be seen much better.
Treatment features
After the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment, which largely depends on the characteristics of the course of the disease and the reason that provoked it. Initially, you need to eliminate the provoking factors. With prolonged hypertension, the doctor prescribes drugs that lower the pressure to an optimal level. If the pathology was triggered by diabetes, then you need to take medications that control sugar levels. In the presence of vascular atherosclerosis, the use of statins is required.
The treatment of angiopathy should be carried out comprehensively using conservative and surgical techniques. To increase the effectiveness of therapy, consultation with other specialists is required. During conservative therapy, the following drugs are used:
- to improve blood microcirculation;
- preventing thrombosis;
- reducing the permeability of the eye vessels;
- vitamin therapy.
Drugs are prescribed only by the attending physician, self-medication is unacceptable, since it can cause irreparable harm to health. An integral part of therapy is physiotherapy sessions, in particular, laser irradiation and magnetic resonance therapy. If vasopathy continues to progress more and more, then surgery is performed.
Drug therapy
The basis of treatment is the elimination of the underlying disease. With the active development of disorders in the vessels, ophthalmic therapy is additionally prescribed. Eye drops are definitely required for angiopathy, which helps normalize blood circulation in the vessels. In particular, such means as Vazonit, Trental, Emoksipin, Arbifleks are used. These drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy and for the treatment of children (can be prescribed in the most extreme cases). Eye drops with retinal angiopathy help normalize vision and eliminate existing symptoms.
Also, drugs that prevent thrombosis, such as Lospirin, Trombonet, Aspirin, are required. Be sure to take a course of vitamin therapy, and also require drugs that strengthen and tone the walls of blood vessels, for example, "Dobesilate calcium", "Parmidin."
The duration of therapy, the treatment regimen, as well as the drugs used are selected individually for each patient. All therapeutic measures are determined by the attending physician. During pregnancy, there is a risk of rupture or dangerous damage to the retinal vessels during labor and delivery. Therefore, angiopathy becomes an indication for cesarean section.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine methods must be used in combination with traditional treatment. Before taking unconventional drugs, a doctor’s consultation is required to prevent complications. Treatment is carried out with the help of decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs.
To cleanse the vessels, you need to prepare an infusion of birch buds, yarrow, immortelle. You need to mix the herbs in equal proportions, then take 1 tbsp. l ready mixture, pour 0.5 l of boiling water and leave to infuse for 15 minutes. Then strain the finished product and dilute with boiled water to the original volume. Take one part of the medicine before bedtime, and the second early in the morning. The course of therapy lasts 10 days.
To strengthen the vessels, you need to mix the highlander, kidney, horsetail, hawthorn. It is necessary to take 2 tsp. finished product, pour 200 ml of boiling water and leave to infuse for 30 minutes. Infusion should be taken 1 tbsp. l 3 times a day. The course of therapy is 20 days.
Daily it is recommended to consume tea made from rowan berries, currant leaves, as well as parsley juice. The stalks of cornflower, dill seeds, bay leaf possess good qualities that clean vessels.
Possible complications
Violation of the functioning of blood vessels can lead to various kinds of dystrophic changes in the retina. In addition to impaired vision or myopia, such a pathology can lead to its complete loss. If timely treatment is not carried out, then this can provoke complications such as:
- rapid visual impairment;
- glaucoma;
- retinal hemorrhage;
- myopia progression;
- cataract;
- decreased functioning of the optic nerve;
- retinal disinsertion;
- complete blindness.
In the advanced stages of the course of the disease, treatment may not be effective enough. It is important to recognize the course of the pathology in time, until irreparable dangerous changes in the retina begin to occur.
Forecast
The prognosis for angiopathy depends on the correctness and timeliness of treatment. If you pay attention to the presence of a problem in time, then the pathological processes that occur in the vessels of the eyes can stop or prevent the development of complications.
However, in advanced stages, angiopathy can lead to partial or complete loss of vision. In addition, there is a high risk of retinal detachment. In this case, the treatment is carried out by laser coagulation.
Prophylaxis
Retinal angiopathy occurs in the case of existing health problems, which is why it is very important to comprehensively deal with your body as a whole. Optometrists advise you not to overload your eyes with prolonged sitting at a computer, reading books, needlework. For better functioning of the organs of vision, pauses should be made for people with mental labor, as well as special exercises for the eyes.
Since at the initial stages of the course of the disease it does not manifest itself in any way, it is important to conduct a comprehensive preventive examination with an ophthalmologist every year. The condition of the affected vessels is often irreversible, and over time, such a pathology can lead to complete blindness.
It is necessary to regularly visit a doctor for people over 40 years old and those who have any chronic diseases. Choosing the right method of therapy and correcting lifestyle allows you to stop the progression of the disease.
The vascular pathology of the eyes can in no case be ignored. If there is a violation of the eyes, be sure to consult a doctor. Only a qualified ophthalmologist should treat angiopathy.
By following preventive measures, the formation of a dangerous pathology can be prevented.