10 General Symptoms of Sickle Cell Anemia

8. Eye and Heart Disease

Sickle cell disease affects all the blood vessels of the body. The eyes and the heart aren't exceptions. It can affect vision, as the red blood cells aggregate inside the vessels and cause blockage or bleeding. The retina can also separate from the layer beneath it and detach from its normal position. This condition is called retinal detachment and can cause vision loss. On the other hand, patients tend to undergo repeated blood transfusion, each time adding more iron to their fragile bodies. This excess iron can cause heart damage.