Embolic cilioretinal artery occlusion due to carotid artery dissection.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of embolic cilioretinal artery occlusion caused by carotid artery dissection.


METHODS
Interventional case report.


METHODS
A 38-year-old woman presented with acute visual loss in her right eye. Funduscopy showed a cilioretinal artery occlusion, which was confirmed by a fluorescein angiography. An embolus was found in the distal segment of the vessel.


RESULTS
Color Doppler images of right internal carotid artery (ICA) disclosed a pseudolumen, suggesting a diagnosis of carotid dissection. Retrobulbar color Doppler image showed relative low flow velocity in the ophthalmic artery without flow reversal. Magnetic resonance angiography and cerebral angiogram showed total occlusion of the right ICA. Follow-up visual field examination revealed an inferior central defect fed by the cilioretinal artery.


CONCLUSIONS
The pathogenesis of retinal artery occlusion caused by carotid dissection may be embolic or hemodynamic. In our case, a permanent visual defect was related to embolic occlusion of the cilioretinal artery.
Hwang
Jiunn-Feng
JF
Department of Ophthalmology, Cahghua Christian Hospital, 135 Nan-Siao Street, Chang-hua 500, Taiwan. bn0928@ms.56.hinet.net
Chen
San-Ni
SN
Chiu
Shin-Lin
SL
Wu
Shey-Lin
SL
D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D020215:Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D019842:Ciliary Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D004617:Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014794:Visual Fields
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin