Orbital ischemia, ophthalmoparesis, and carotid dissection

We report a patient who developed an acute loss of vision in the left eye associated with proptosis, ophthalmoparesis, conjunctival injection, and chemosis. Funduscopy revealed optic disc swelling, and retinal whitening consistent with an ophthalmic artery occlusion. Angiography disclosed bilateral carotid dissections presumably resulting from head trauma 11 days earlier. An orbital ischemic syndrome may be a delayed manifestation of traumatic carotid dissection and precede cerebral hypoperfusion.