A case of ocular ischaemic syndrome in a young insulin dependent diabetic male

It is well known that diabetic patients are at an increased risk of the earlier development of significant atherosclerotic disease. We wish to report the case of a young insulin-dependent diabetic with an 18 months history of rapidly progressing 'diabetic' retinopathy who presented with right-sided weakness and was found to have severe carotid artery disease. We suggest that the sudden proliferation in his retinopathy was due to retinal ischaemia secondary to the carotid artery stenosis and we wish to present this as a case of ocular ischaemic syndrome in a young diabetic patient.