Central retinal artery spasm

Central retinal artery spasm, a seldom witnessed ocular sign, has been recognized in one eye of a patient complaining of transient monocular blindness. Removal of an ulcerative atheromatous plaque of the carotid artery on the same side as the eye with central retinal artery spasm resulted in complete disappearance of symptoms. No other signs of ocular pathology were noted in addition to the central retinal artery spasm. Central retinal artery spasm occurring in both eyes simultaneously may be the mechanism explaining the visual loss of amaurosis fugax. Physiologic mechanisms associating brief episodes of monocular blindness and carotid artery obstructive disease with atherosclerosis are discussed. The possibility of central retinal artery spasm initiating occlusion of the same vessel is mentioned.