Unilateral vaso-occlusive retinopathy in quiescent condition of systemic lupus erythematosus

A 24-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus had decreased visual acuity, retinal cotton-wool spots, venous dilations, and multiple arteriolar occlusions around the optic disc in her left eye. The right eye showed good visual acuity and a few small retinal hemorrhages. Although abnormal serologic findings and systemic manifestations quieted with corticosteroid therapy, the retinopathy in the left eye progressed. After treatment with focal argon laser photocoagulation, progression of the retinopathy stopped.