Ocular Ischemic Syndrome

Excerpt

The ophthalmic artery being the first intradural branch of the carotid artery reflects the perfusion status of the vessel. Ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS) is a disorder of ocular function that occurs subsequent to the stenosis of the carotid artery. The acute manifestations of the disease are transient ischemic attacks and retinal artery occlusion. In contrast, the chronic manifestations are retinopathy and neovascularization and its sequel.

The first case of OIS was reported in 1963 by Hedges as a case with retinal hemorrhages and venous dilatation in a patient with complete occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA). In the same year, the entity was named as venous stasis retinopathy by Kearnst and Hollenhorst who reported that about 5% of patients with carotid artery occlusion or stenosis had ocular signs and symptoms. To avoid any confusion with the cases of non-ischemic central retinal vein occlusion, which are also referred to as venous stasis retinopathy and histopathology of eyes with the disease generally did not reveal inflammation the term ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS) had been coined by Dr. Gary C Brown and Dr. Larry Magargal.