Central Retinal Artery Occlusion

Excerpt

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is an ophthalmic emergency that can lead to sudden and severe vision loss. CRAO has been defined as interruption of blood flow through the central retinal artery by thromboembolism or vasospasm with or without retinal ischemia. An embolus from the carotid artery, aortic arch, or heart often causes the condition. Giant cell arteritis is another rare but serious cause of CRAO. The condition is similar to a cerebral ischemic event and is associated with an increased risk of subsequent cerebral stroke and ischemic heart disease. Unfortunately, no established therapies exist to improve visual outcomes in CRAO. Therefore, management should focus on preventing further vascular events, such as cerebral ischemia and cardiovascular death. Although visual prognosis is typically poor, early diagnosis and treatment of CRAO can restore visual acuity in some patients.