Retinal embolization from endocarditis

Arterial emboli, fragmentation of both the arterial and venous blood columns, and bilateral cherry red spot were seen in the fundus of a patient with progressive onset of visual loss. Initially, the patient, a 56-year-old housewife, was thought to have temporal arteritis. Her clinical condition worsened on steroids which was subsequently discontinued when 5 out of 6 blood cultures were reported positive. Showers of microemboli were responsible for her unusual fundus findings.