Retinal fat emboli as sequela to acute pancreatitis

A clinical picture of Purtscher's retinopathy was observed in three patients with acute pancreatitis. In two patients, fluorescein angiography revealed arteriolar obstruction. Since fat emboli occur in pancreatitis, and since fat emboli may produce the picture of Purtscher's retinopathy, we proposed that fat emboli caused the retinal findings in these patients.