Central Retinal artery occlusion

Question 1

Where does the central retinal artery branch off from?

Answer 1

ophtalmic artery (internal carotid artery branch)

Question 2

What are the causes of retinal artery occlusion??

Answer 2

atherosclerosis
giant cell arteritis

Question 3

List three risk factors for central retinal occlusion?

Answer 3

(same risk factors as for other cardiovascular disease)
older age
family history
smoking
alcohol
hypertension
diabetes

Question 4

Risk factors for giant cell arteritis?

Answer 4

polymyalgia rheumatica
female
>50

Question 5

Is there pain with retinal artery occlusion?

Answer 5

no pain

Question 6

What visual defect will there be?

Answer 6

RAPD
This is where the pupil in the affected eye constricts more when light is shone in the other eye compared when it is shone in the affected eye. This occurs because the input is not being sensed by the ischaemic retina when testing the direct light reflex but is being sensed by the normal retina during the consensual light reflex.

Question 7

What will fundoscopy show on central retinal detachment?

Answer 7

pale retina
cherry red spot

. The retina is pale due to a lack of perfusion with blood. The cherry-red spot is the macula, which has a thinner surface that shows the red coloured choroid below and contrasts with the pale retina.

Question 8

What is the management of retinal artery occlusion?

Answer 8

if GCA then steroids
Dislodge thrombus- ocular massage, remove fluid from anterior chamber, sublingual isosorbide dinitrate to dilate artery