Figure 1. Central retinal artery occlusion: white, swollen retina with a cherry-red spot at the center and narrowed vessels. Image: Fieß A, et al. BMC Ophthalmol 2014;14:28, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Source
What is it?
A retinal artery occlusion is a blockage of an artery that feeds the retina, the light-sensing layer at the back of the eye. It is a stroke in the eye. It causes sudden, painless loss of vision in all or part of one eye. The blockage is usually a tiny clot or piece of cholesterol that traveled from the neck arteries or the heart, the same kind that causes strokes in the brain.
What do I do about it?
Go to the emergency room right away; it should be treated like a stroke. The weeks after one of these carry a higher risk of a stroke in the brain, so you need tests of the heart, neck arteries and brain. If you are over 50, I check blood tests for inflammation of the arteries, which needs steroids right away. No treatment has been proven to bring back the lost vision, though some returns on its own. I’ll watch for abnormal blood vessels that can raise eye pressure and treat them with laser.
When should I call?
Call 911 or my office (408-540-3559) right away:
- Call 911: sudden vision loss in either eye
- Call 911: weakness, numbness, trouble speaking or a drooping face
- Call my office: eye pain or redness
This page is for general education and does not replace an exam. Call Cai Retina at 408-540-3559 with questions.