title: Cilioretinal artery occlusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate characteristic findings and functional outcome of this rare type of retinal vascular occlusion in a large patient series.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of all patients with a cilioretinal artery obstruction (CAO) seen at the University Eye Clinic Mainz (Germany) over a ten-year period between 1/1999 and 12/2008 was undertaken. The mean follow-up amounted to 42 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three eyes were diagnosed with CAO. Three distinct groups were differentiated: (i) isolated CAO in 20/33 eyes; visual outcome achieving 20/50 in 17/20 eyes; (ii) CAO combined with central retinal vein occlusion in 9/33 eyes; visual outcome achieving 20/50 in 5/9 eyes; (iii) CAO combined with anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy in 4/33 eyes; associated with giant cell arteriitis in 4/4 eyes; visual outcome achieving 20/160 in 1/4 eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The visual prognosis of CAO is significantly better than for other types of retinal artery occlusions, with the exception of cases associated with giant cell arteriitis.
authors.affiliation: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Augenklinik der Universitätsmedizin, Mainz (Direktor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. N. Pfeiffer).
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Stoffelns
authors.affiliation: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Augenklinik der Universitätsmedizin, Mainz (Direktor: Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. N. Pfeiffer).
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laspas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity