Retinal Artery Reperfusion After Translumenal YAG Laser Embolysis in a Case of Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion

Purpose: To present a potential treatment for embolic branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO). Methods: A case and its findings were analyzed. Results: A 75-year-old man with a 5-day history of an acute superior visual field defect in the right eye was found to have a BRAO secondary to a Hollenhorst plaque and was treated with translumenal YAG laser embolysis. Reperfusion of the retinal artery was observed on dislodging the Hollenhorst plaque, and improvements were seen in the patient's superior visual field defect. Conclusions: Translumenal YAG laser embolysis could potentially reverse ischemia secondary to embolic RAOs. This case report and the current literature cited suggest a rationale for treatment and supports further study of this technique.