Bilateral Central Retinal Vein Occlusion as Presenting Feature of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Hematology
• Vascular Medicine

Background:

• Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) is a common retinal vascular disease, typically unilateral.
• CRVO management focuses on preventing blinding complications, as specific therapies are limited.
• Bilateral CRVO often indicates an underlying systemic illness, such as hyperviscosity syndrome.

Observation:

• A patient presented with a sudden, bilateral decrease in visual acuity.
• Ophthalmic evaluation diagnosed the condition as bilateral central retinal vein occlusion.
• Subsequent systemic investigation revealed an undiagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia.

Findings:

• The case demonstrates a rare instance of chronic myeloid leukemia presenting initially to an ophthalmologist.
• Bilateral CRVO served as the presenting sign for a significant hematological malignancy.
• Early ophthalmic detection facilitated the diagnosis of a potentially life-threatening systemic disease.

Implications:

• Highlights the critical role of ophthalmologists in identifying systemic diseases beyond ocular manifestations.
• Emphasizes the need for comprehensive systemic workup in cases of bilateral CRVO.
• Underscores the importance of recognizing rare presentations of hematological malignancies in ophthalmic practice.