Signs and Symptoms of Stroke and Impending Stroke in a Series of Optometric Patients

A sample of 1000 consecutively attending patients aged 50 years or more yielded 126 (12.6%) subjects having completed stroke or presenting with signs or symptoms indicating risk of stroke. The findings included 82 patients who had experienced transient ischemic attacks, 61 with cervical bruit, 24 with retinal signs of vascular insufficiency, and 26 who had suffered a completed stroke. The high incidence of stroke and the common occurrence of prodromal signs and symptoms of impending stroke justifies the inclusion of cervical auscultation and an extended history taking in the optometric examination. It is suggested that these procedures should be carried out on diabetic or hypertensive patients and all patients aged 50 years or older. Patients identified as being at risk of stroke should be referred for medical management.