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Retinal artery occlusion - Symptom

Alternative Names

Central retinal artery occlusion; Branch retinal artery occlusion; CRAO; BRAO

Symptoms:

Sudden blurring or loss of vision may occur in:

  • All of one eye (central retinal artery occlusion or CRAO)
  • Part of one eye (branch retinal artery occlusion or BRAO)

The retinal artery occlusion may last for only a few seconds or minutes, or it may be permanent.

If the blood clot moves to another part of the brain, symptoms of a stroke may develop.

Signs and tests:

Tests to evaluate the retina may include:

General tests should include:

Tests to identify the source of a clot from another part of the body:

  • Reviewed last on: 4/15/2010
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Duker JS. Retinal arterial occlusion. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. Maryland Heights, Mo: Mosby Elsevier;2008:chap 6.16.

Fay A. Diseases of the visual system. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 449.

Pokhrel PK, Loftus SA. Occular emergencies. Am Fam Physician. 2007;76:829-836.

Vortmann M, Schneider JI. Acute monocular visual loss. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2008;26:73-96.

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