High cholesterol can contribute to diabetic retinopathy, in which blood leaks into the eye through leakage of veins supplying it, altering its shape and curvature and creating opaque spots or strings in your vision, known as floaters. Treatment includes managing diabetes as well as scheduling regular dilated eye exams with dilation lenses.

Causes

An unexpected sudden appearance of eye floaters could signal retinal detachment, an emergency medical situation which requires surgical intervention immediately. Floaters occur due to blood vessel leakage in the vitreous gel of the eye resulting in leakage of vitreous gel into blood vessels in the vitreous layer and require medical intervention immediately. Leakage typically results from blockages in one or more retinal veins that supply oxygen and nutrients to the eye, most commonly at an ARVO, where retinal arteries meet retinal veins. Common causes for blockages in these retinal veins are diabetes retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, trauma to the eye, inflammation within it as well as autoimmune disorders and medications.

Floaters may be an indication of high cholesterol. This condition typically appears among individuals under 40 and manifests itself through small yellow fatty deposits around the eyes that can be felt when touched. High cholesterol can also increase one’s risk for cardiovascular disease and certain cancers; most often seen is atherosclerosis or hardening of arteries while peripheral Artery Disease features plaques composed of cholesterol build-up in its lining arteries linings.

Diagnosis

A 40-year-old male presented with new floaters and blurred vision, as well as significant family history of hypertension, high cholesterol and taking baby aspirin daily. Due to acute flashes and floaters with painless monocular vision loss which occurred suddenly without prior warning or treatment from an eye care provider, he was immediately referred to a vitreoretinal specialist; fluorescein angiogram shows an area blocked superiorly due to vitreous hemorrhage; scattered dot and blot retinal hemorrhages were noted inferiorly and posterior pole.

Treatment

High blood sugar levels can cause fluid buildup in the eye, altering its shape and curve to change over time, which results in blurry vision, color perception changes and floaters (dark strings or transparent spots that appear to float in your field of vision). For optimal treatment of diabetic retinopathy known as proliferative diabetic retinopathy a retina specialist may recommend laser photocoagulation or vitrectomy treatments in order to slow its progression and minimize vision problems; alternatively a healthy diet rich in ascorbic acid (vitamin C), balanced vitamin C intake along with good sunglasses can all aid.

Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion, or BRVO, occurs when one or more veins draining blood from the retina become blocked due to blockages that occlude, leading to macular oedema or ischaemia as well as new vessels bursting through into the vitreous space. It can lead to macular oedema as well as bleeding into vitreous fluid.