Internal carotid artery dissection causing a branch retinal artery occlusion in a young adult.
OBJECTIVE
To report a 34-year-old healthy man with an internal carotid artery dissection who presented with an ipsilateral branch retinal artery occlusion.


METHODS
Case report.


RESULTS
Ophthalmic examination of a young adult presenting with transient monocular visual loss and a superior nasal field defect disclosed a left inferior branch retinal artery occlusion. After fluorescein angiography, the patient had a vasovagal response, and his condition worsened to a left central retinal artery occlusion. Neurologic evaluation followed by carotid angiography disclosed a left internal carotid artery dissection with total occlusion of the internal carotid artery.


CONCLUSIONS
The differential diagnosis of retinal arterial occlusion in a young healthy adult without any notable ocular or medical history, including trauma, should include spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection.
McDonough
R L
RL
Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL 33101-6880, USA.
Forteza
A M
AM
Flynn
H W
HW
D000328:Adult; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000792:Angiography; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014792:Visual Acuity
D000925:Anticoagulants