Anemic retinopathy is a common term used to describe anemia that damages the eyes. The blood vessels of the retina may alter and sustain damage as a result of anemia. Anemia occurs when the body does not produce enough healthy red blood cells and lacks oxygen. A lack of oxygen causes a range of symptoms and problems in the eyes. We will learn more about the difference between anemic eyes vs normal eyes in this article.
How Anemia Affects the Eyes and Vision
The following are some potential ocular symptoms of anemia:
Yellow or blue sclera
The outermost layer of the eye’s whites, known as the sclera, can become blue due to anemia. According to a study, it is significantly more prevalent among those with iron deficiency anemia. This may occur as a result of anemia’s weakening effects on the collagen fibers in the sclera, which make the uvea -the blue layer beneath- more noticeable.
Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and sclera, is another symptom of anemia. When bilirubin, a yellow chemical, is not sufficiently broken down by the liver, it builds up in the body and causes jaundice.
Roth spots and cotton wool spots
Spots on cotton wool resemble cloud-like marks that are slightly elevated. They may be caused by clogged blood vessels in the retina and are tiny, yellow, white, or gray.
Cotton wool spots frequently don’t produce any visual problems, but if they appear on the fovea, a central region of the retina, they may impair vision.
Roth spots are white-centered hemorrhages that appear during an eye examination. They are brought on by clotted blood that has seeped out of retinal blood vessels.
Edema and transient retinal hemorrhage
Anemia may be highlighted by blood leaking in various retinal layers. This might happen if the retina’s blood vessels are damaged by low oxygen levels in the eye, which leads to the vessel walls breaking and leaking.
Retinal hemorrhage can also cause retinal edema, an accumulation of fluid, and swelling on the retina.
Visual Differences Between Anemic and Normal Eyes
The illness is normally asymptomatic; however, the anemic eyes vs normal may exhibit:
- White, rather than pink, inner eyelids.
- The sclera, or whites of the eyes, seem blue.
- blurry vision.
- Blind spots.
- eye pain.
- Floaters and flashes.
- momentary opacification of vision.
- shadowy circles beneath the eyes.
The pathophysiology of anemic retinopathy involves anoxia, Angio spasm, venous stasis, and increased capillary permeability.
Diagnosing and Treating Anemia-Related Eye Issues
Diagnosis
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- Fundus examination: for Roth spots and hemorrhages examination.
- Fluorescein angiography: is used to identify blood vessels in the retina, notably sea fan-shaped veins and regions with no blood flow.
- Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography: imaging that exhibits cross sections of the retina for detecting regions of retinal thinning.
- Optical coherence tomography angiography: retinal imaging, detects abnormalities in the retina and choroidal arteries.
Managing anemic eyes vs normal
Anemic retinopathy management is likely to improve if the underlying cause is treated and the anemia is corrected
Small hemorrhages often respond to blood transfusions, however major hemorrhages that threaten vision might require a hyaloidotomy or pars plana vitrectomy.
If laser therapy is not feasible due to extensive retinopathy, ocular surgery may be necessary to remove blood or scar tissue from the eye.
Reference
Bagheri, S., Armstrong, G. W., & Vavvas, D. G. (2020). Retinopathy Associated with Blood Disorders. Springer EBooks, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90495-5_30-1
Felman, A. (2024a, June 27). How might anemia affect the eyes? Retrieved from Medicalnewstoday.com website: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/eye-anemia-symptoms
Felman, A. (2024b, June 27). How might anemia affect the eyes? Retrieved December 26, 2024, from Medicalnewstoday.com website: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/eye-anemia-symptoms#treatment
Selvan, H., Azad, S. V., Ramesh, P., & Bhakthaganesh, K. (2019). Retinopathy in severe aplastic anaemia. BMJ Case Reports CP, 12(10), e232426. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2019-232426
Venkatesh, R. (2023). Determinants for Anemic Retinopathy. Beyoglu Eye Journal. https://doi.org/10.14744/bej.2023.05658
