Sickle Cell Retinopathy

Sickle cell retinopathy is damage to the retina caused by sickle cell disease, which can lead to bleeding inside the eye and sight loss if untreated.

Common symptoms

Often none in early stages, but later symptoms can include new floaters, flashes of light, blurred vision, or sudden loss of vision.

Description

In sickle cell disease, red blood cells can become stiff and sticky, blocking small blood vessels. In the eye, this can cause the retina to be starved of oxygen, which triggers the growth of abnormal new blood vessels that bleed easily.

The condition can affect people with different forms of sickle cell disease, including sickle cell anaemia and haemoglobin SC disease. The risk of sight-threatening changes is higher with haemoglobin SC, and symptoms often do not appear until complications such as vitreous haemorrhage or retinal detachment develop.

Regular dilated eye examinations are recommended so that changes can be picked up early. Treatment may include laser therapy to shrink abnormal blood vessels, eye injections, or surgery for severe bleeding or retinal detachment, alongside general care for sickle cell disease.