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Updated: Apr 21, 2026

A Murine Model of Ischemic Retinal Injury Induced by Transient Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion
Published on: November 12, 2020
Simultaneous multiple branch retinal artery occlusions after diagnostic cardiac catheterization
Masoud Soheilian1, Alireza R Haghi, Soraya Rofagha
1From the *Department of Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Research Center, Labbafinejad Medical Center, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; †Negah Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran; and the ‡Department Of Ophthalmology, University of Arizona Health Science Center, Tucson, Arizona.
Purpose:
We describe a 53-year-old man with a decrease in visual acuity in the left eye 2 weeks after diagnostic cardiac catheterization.
Design:
Interventional case report.
Methods:
A 53-year-old man with a decrease in visual acuity in the left eye 2 weeks after diagnostic cardiac catheterization underwent ophthalmoscopic, angiographic, and laboratory evaluations. Both funduscopy and fluorescein angiography confirmed the diagnosis of simultaneous multiple branch retinal artery occlusions in the left eye.
Results:
The left eye had a mildly positive (1+) relative afferent pupillary defect. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy was unremarkable except for 2+ nuclear cataract bilaterally. Intraocular pressure was 12 mmHg in the right eye and 11 mmHg in the left eye by applanation tonometry. Funduscopy revealed a normal right eye.
Conclusion:
This case report of multiple branch retinal artery occlusions due to cholesterol embolus after diagnostic cardiac catheterization is extremely rare. Visual symptoms after cardiac catheterization should alert both ophthalmologists and cardiologists to this potential post-cardiac catheterization complication.
Related Concept Videos
Cardiac Catheterization II: Right Heart Catheterization
Cardiac Catheterization III: Left Heart Catheterization
Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview

