Retinal artery occlusion following cosmetic injection of poly-L-lactic acid

Ophthalmic vascular occlusion is an infrequent but devastating complication following cosmetic facial filler injection. We report a case of developing retinal artery occlusion after poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) injection. A 49-year-old woman with multiple chronic diseases experienced sudden central visual loss and severe ocular pain in the right eye immediately after PLLA injection in the temporal region. Her best-corrected visual acuity in the right eye dropped from 20/20 to 20/200. Fundus photography showed marked optic disc edema and localized retinal whitening in the territory of the blocked vessels. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography revealed localized hyperreflectivity of the inner retina and retinal edema. Fluorescein angiography showed delayed filling of the retinal arteries and absence of retinal perfusion in the affected areas. Despite prompt aggressive management of the condition with ocular massage, topical brimonidine eyedrops, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the patient suffered permanent visual loss due to optic atrophy. Among all the subcutaneous filler materials, PLLA has not been a common cause of vascular complications, especially when injected in the temporal region, as this area has not been considered dangerous in the previous literature. Practitioners should be aware of the risk of visual loss, and extra care should be given on those who originally have a higher risk for vascular complications.