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Published on: August 6, 2021
Retinal artery occlusion: associated systemic and ophthalmic abnormalities
Sohan Singh Hayreh1, Patricia A Podhajsky, M Bridget Zimmerman
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242-1091, USA. sohan-hayreh@uiowa.edu
Ophthalmology
|July 7, 2009
Summary
Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is linked to higher rates of cardiovascular disease and smoking. Embolism, often from carotid artery plaque, is the primary cause, not neovascular glaucoma.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Neurology
Background:
- Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a serious condition affecting vision.
- Understanding associated systemic and ophthalmic abnormalities is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate systemic and ophthalmic abnormalities in central (CRAO) and branch (BRAO) retinal artery occlusions.
- To identify the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and embolic sources in RAO patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study included 439 consecutive untreated patients (499 eyes) with RAO.
- Comprehensive ophthalmic and medical evaluations were performed, including visual acuity, visual fields, carotid Doppler/angiography, and echocardiography.
Main Results:
- Patients with nonarteritic CRAO and BRAO showed significantly higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular accidents compared to the general US population.
- Carotid artery plaques were common (71% in NA-CRAO, 66% in BRAO), with significant stenosis in 31% and 30% respectively.
- Embolic sources were identified in 52% of NA-CRAO and 42% of BRAO cases via echocardiography.
Conclusions:
- RAO is strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases and smoking.
- Carotid artery plaque is the most frequent embolic source for CRAO and BRAO, often more critical than the degree of stenosis.
- No causal link was found between CRAO and neovascular glaucoma.
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