You may not have any symptoms of carotid artery disease. Plaque builds up in the carotid arteries over time with no warning signs until you have a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or a stroke.Signs of a stroke may include: 1  Sudden loss of vision, blurred vision, or difficulty in seeing out of one or both eyes.laque builds up in the carotid arteries over time with no warning signs until you have a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or a stroke. Signs of a stroke may include: 1  Sudden loss of vision, blurred vision, or difficulty in seeing out of one or both eyes.