Maxillary artery pseudoaneurysm causing retinal artery occlusion
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Updated: Aug 3, 2025

A Murine Model of Ischemic Retinal Injury Induced by Transient Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion
Published on: November 12, 2020
Ashton T Nicholson1, Mary Ann Sullivan1, Brian M Corliss2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Naval Hospital Okinawa, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa, 904-0103, Japan.
Purpose:
To report a novel case of central retinal artery occlusion in a 44-year-old male caused by emboli from a non-traumatic maxillary artery pseudoaneurysm.
Observations:
A 44-year-old male with history of hypertension presented to clinic with painless vision loss in his left eye. He was found to have a central retinal artery occlusion. Ocular massage and intraocular pressure lowering agents were administered and the patient was transferred to the emergency department for cerebrovascular work-up. Remarkably, the patient had rapid symptom improvement from no light perception to 20/70 after ocular massage and IOP agents. Neuroimaging studies discovered a maxillary artery pseudoaneurysm with anastomotic branches to the internal carotid artery via the foramen rotundum and Vidian artery. Endovascular embolization was performed to prevent further thromboembolic event.
Conclusion And Importance:
We believe this to be the first reported case of retinal artery occlusion caused by a maxillary artery pseudoaneurysm. This case demonstrates that visual deficits can be the presenting symptom of a non-traumatic maxillary artery pseudoaneurysm.
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