Retinal artery occlusion

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Retina

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

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.

Tests to evaluate the retina may include:

• Examination of the retina after dilating the pupil
• Fluorescein angiography
• Intraocular pressure
• Pupil reflex response
• Refraction
• Retinal photography
• Slit lamp examination
• Testing of side vision (visual field examination)
• Visual acuity

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General tests should include:

• Blood pressure
• Blood tests, including cholesterol and triglyceride levels and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• Physical examination

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

• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram
• Heart monitor for abnormal heart rhythm
• Duplex Doppler ultrasound of the carotid arteries

Review Date: 04/15/2010
Reviewed By: 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.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).