[Central retinal artery occlusion in a 21-year-old male amateur bodybuilder]

The etiology of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is usually associated with atherosclerotic risk factors and the presence of intravascular (carotid artery, aortic arch) or intracardiac embolic material. At young age, CRAO may be a manifestation of inherited or acquired thrombophilia. The authors present a case of CRAO in a 21-year-old, previously healthy, non-smoking male, with neither metabolic nor hemostatic abnormalities and with normal echocardiography. However, he had a positive family history of premature coronary heart disease and a history of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) use during amateur bodybuilding. We have not found an example of CRAO in the literature on various, systemic thromboembolic complications following AAS use.