The Elusive Embolus: Hiding in Plain Sight (.pdf)

Branch retinal artery occlusion, BRAO is a vision threatening condition caused by occlusion of one or more of the major arteries in the retina, frequently caused by an embolus. Identification of an embolus has important implications to identifying a cause, determining a treatment, and preventing other end-organ damage. Proximal emboli on the optic nerve head are more difficult to visualize compared to distal emboli, which are more easily seen against the contrast of the pigmentary retina.