Bilateral Central Retinal Artery Occlusion in Infective Endocarditis

This report describes a patient with bilateral, sequential central retinal artery occlusions (CRAOs) due to infective endocarditis (IE).

A case report is presented.

A 35-year-old man with IE who recently completed a course of intravenous antibiotic therapy presented with sudden right-eye vision loss. Examination revealed hand motion vision, a cherry-red spot in the macula in the right eye, and an embolus in the inferotemporal arcade of the left eye. The diagnosis of right-eye CRAO secondary to IE was made, with the presumed source being his dental caries. The patient was admitted with plans for aortic valve replacement and dental extraction. During his hospitalization, the patient suffered from a CRAO in his left eye, resulting in bilateral loss of vision.

IE can have severe embolic complications; prompt diagnosis and treatment medically and surgically are necessary to reduce further morbidity and mortality.