$Unique_ID{BRK04179} $Pretitle{} $Title{Retinopathy, Arteriosclerotic} $Subject{Retinopathy Arteriosclerotic Arteriosclerosis, Retina } $Volume{} $Log{} Copyright (C) 1987, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. 327: Retinopathy, Arteriosclerotic ** IMPORTANT ** It is possible the main title of the article (Arteriosclerotic Retinopathy) is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing to find the alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article. Synonyms Arteriosclerosis, Retina General Discussion ** REMINDER ** The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources" section of this report. Arteriosclerotic Retinopathy is a series of changes in the retina that are caused by arteriosclerosis. It is characterized by bleeding in the retina, thick fluid oozing from the retina, impaired oxygenation of the retina, an abrupt reduction of blood flow to the heart muscle which may cause dying off of tissue (myocardial infarction), and hardening of the walls of the little arteries (arterioles) in the eye. These degenerative changes can cause vision impairment. Symptoms In Arteriosclerotic Retinopathy the opening (lumen) of the little arteries (arterioles) in the retina is irregular. The retina is the layer of the eyeball that contains the light sensitive nerve cells. This layer also contains a large number of little blood vessels. This disorder causes thickening of the arterial walls which in turn causes the arterioles to become contorted. Flame shaped or pinpoint spots of bleeding may also occur, although they are apparent only during examination of the eye with an ophthalmoscope. The retina may show oozing of thick liquid, and dying tissue (necrosis) in certain spots. The place where the optic nerve enters the retina (optic disk or papilla) as seen by the ophthalmologist, may be blurred. The retina may become detached, and arterial spasm may occur. Eventually internal bleeding or clotting (thrombosis) of the central vein and withering away (atrophy) of the retina may result, which can cause progressive vision impairment. Causes Arteriosclerotic Retinopathy usually occurs as a result of progressive hardening of the blood vessels by calcification and loss of elastic tissue (arteriosclerosis). Arteriosclerosis is a general term which includes a number of blood vessel diseases such as fatty degeneration of the arteries (atherosclerosis), and may also include changes in the shape of the arteries. With age, the blood vessels often become more contorted and less elastic. Certain biochemical, physical and environmental factors, known as risk factors may predispose an individual to arteriosclerosis. Affected Population Arteriosclerotic Retinopathy affects persons with fatty degeneration (atherosclerosis), and hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis). This type of Retinopathy usually affects people over age 50 years Related Disorders Hypertensive Retinopathy is a syndrome of changes in the retina caused by hypertension. It is characterized by progressive changes in the little arteries (arterioles) of the eye and swelling (edema), resulting in vision impairment. (For more information, choose "hypertensive retinopathy" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.) Papilledema (Choked Disk) is a swelling (edema) of the portion of the retina where the optic nerve enters the eyeball. The swelling is due to increased pressure inside the skull that may be caused by a variety of conditions. Therapies: Standard Therapy for Arteriosclerotic Retinopathy consists of treating the underlying arteriosclerosis. An excess of lipids in the blood (hyperlipidemia) can be prevented by changes in dietary habits. Fat intake should be reduced, and saturated fats should be replaced with polyunsaturated fats. The intake of cholesterol, saturated and short-chain fatty acids (such as those in meats or dairy products), should be reduced. Weight reduction to normal, or even slightly under current statistical norms, is recommended. Drugs may be required in certain patients to reduce blood cholesterol and lipids. Prevention of arteriosclerosis is possible by good control of diabetes when present, and by weight loss if obesity is a factor. Cigarette smoking may also aggravate arteriosclerosis and should be limited or stopped. Regular exercise may be a helpful therapeutic measure. Hypertension should be identified and treated early. Therapies: Investigational This disease entry is based upon medical information available through March 1987. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder. Resources For more information on Arteriosclerotic Retinopathy, please contact: National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 8923 New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783 (203) 746-6518 NIH/National Eye Institute 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 (301) 496-5248 Eye Research Institute of the Retina Foundation 20 Staniford Street Boston, MA 02114 (617) 742-3140 American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) 1010 Vermont Ave., NW, Suite 1100 New York, NY 10011 (202) 393-3666 American Heart Association 7320 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75231 (214) 750-530 References CURRENT MEDICAL INFORMATION AND TERMINOLOGY, 5th ed: Asher J. Finkel, et. al., eds; American Medical Association, 1981. Pp. 392, 2011.