Retinal artery occlusion

Description Retinal artery occl...

Description

Retinal artery occlusion is the blockage of the blood flow through the artery that supplies blood to the light-sensitive layer of the eye called the retina. Within minutes, the cells of the retina begin to die without blood flow. This is a true eye (ophthalmologic) emergency. The blockage occurs as a result of a build-up of clot in the retinal artery (thrombus) or a clot that travels from a distant site, usually the heart, and lodges in the retinal artery (embolus). Other more infrequent causes include inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis), trauma and sickle cell disease.

Symptoms

Symptoms include painless loss of vision. The visual loss presents rapidly and is significant.

Tests

Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment

Workup:
A complete history and physical will be performed. A specific ophthalmologic exam and visual testing will be performed. The diagnosis can often be made based on exam findings. The eye doctor (ophthalmologist) may suggest a fluorescein angiogram (stain and picture of the vessels of the retina) to confirm the diagnosis.

Specialists:
Ophthalmology

Treatment

Treatment focuses on increasing blood flow to the retina and dislodging the clot. Basic non-invasive treatment includes massage of the eye and rebreathing carbon dioxide (breathing into a paper bag). Your ophthalmologist may recommend an anterior chamber paracentesis (removal of fluid from the eye with a needle). Finally, there are a number of experimental therapies that may be beneficial. These include the use of lasers, hyperbaric oxygen (extremely high oxygen levels), clot busting medications and vasodilators (medications to dilate blood vessels).