Eye Damage

A person with SDC is at risk of having partial or total vision loss due to a condition called vascular occlusion. Basically, delicate blood vessels running through the eyes become blocked, leading to weakened vessels and possible hemorrhaging. There are a number of illnesses capable of creating this symptom; diseases such as eales disease, diabetes and retinal vein occlusion need to be ruled out when determining if a patient has sickle cell disease. A form of ultrasound called Doppler Sonography is often used when determining the cause of illness.

Treatment for vascular occlusion involves procedures aimed at preventing or halting vision loss while also avoiding retinal scarring or detachment. The two most common forms of treatment involve either clipping: the pinching of a vessel to stop blood from seeping into the eye or by inserting a ligature: a small coil which helps promote blood clotting.