Why People with Rheumatoid Arthritis May Experience Eye Problems

Retinal vascular occlusion is a condition where the small blood vessels that feed on the layer of the eye that senses light, the retina, become blocked, leading to many clogged in one space. This is similar to what happens during a heart attack or stroke.

Retinal vascular occlusion can cause vision loss by impacting the artery or the vein. When an artery is blocked, the damage that occurs often cannot be reversed. When a vein is blocked, sometimes effective laser surgery will be able to minimize the swelling, and enable the person to regain much of their vision.