Arteriovenous communications of the retina.
BACKGROUND
Arteriovenous communications of the retina (AVCR) is a rare, congenital, retinal vascular anomaly. Usually it is unilateral, with a predilection for the papillomacular area and superotemporal quadrant of the retina. Men and women are equally affected, and rarely is this condition inherited.


METHODS
A 32-year-old woman was examined with complaints of blurred vision in the left eye after viewing a solar eclipse through a telescope. A complete eye examination showed no visible damage from viewing the eclipse, but a suspected AVCR in the left retina was observed. The patient was referred to a retina specialist for further evaluation.


RESULTS
The patient was diagnosed with a grade II AVCR in the left eye. An MRI of the head and orbits showed no intracranial AV malformations.


CONCLUSIONS
This case agrees with the expected findings for a grade I or II AVCR. Visual acuity is usually unaffected, and associated systemic AV communications are typically not found in a grade I or II AVCR. Grade III AVCR is the most severe form, and is often linked with a life-threatening midbrain AV malformation.
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Meinhold
D000328:Adult; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D012160:Retina / Q000002:abnormalities*; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology