Acute Obstruction of the Central Retinal Artery without Involvement of the Cilioretinal Artery

Presenting Symptom: Loss of vision OD. Pathology; Embolism. Clinical: Two cilioretinal arteries emerge from the temporal edge of the disc (separated by the macular vein). Since these arteries derive from the choroidal circulation, they are not involved in obstruction of the retinal artery, and the corresponding portion of the retina, up to the edge of the macula, is spared. The patient was an 18-year old male who had lost vision in the right eye three days previously while engaged in violent physical exercise - doing the "twist". The etiology of the obstruction was not evident, although the central white spot on the disc may represent an embolus. Disease/ Diagnosis: Retinal artery occlusion