Treatment:

Breathing in (inhaling) a carbon dioxide-oxygen mixture has been used to treat blockages in the arteries. This treatment causes the arteries of the retina to widen (dilate). It may allow the clot to move down the artery and sometimes break up, which reduces the area of the retina that is affected.

The health care provider should look for the cause of the blockage. Blockages may be signs of a life-threatening medical problem. Patients with retinal artery occlusions should be screened for:

• Cranial arteritis
• Carotid artery blockage
• Heart rhythm disturbances
• Heart valve disease
• High blood pressure

The use of the clot-busting drug, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), within a few hours of retinal artery occlusion may be helpful.

Expectations (prognosis):

People with blockages of the retinal artery may not get their vision back.

Complications:

• Partial or complete loss of vision in the affected eye
• Similar problem occurring again in the same or the other eye
• Stroke

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have sudden blurring or vision loss.