Isolated cilioretinal artery occlusion in a patient with hypertensive crisis.

To cite: Park S-U, Lee S-J, Kim M. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2013202890 DESCRIPTION A 35-year-old Asian man presented with acute vision loss in the right eye. On examination, the best corrected visual acuities were 20/50 in the right eye and 20/25 in the left eye. Anterior segment examination was normal, intraocular pressures were 18 mm Hg in both eyes and there was no pupillary abnormality. Fundus examination of the right eye revealed an area of retinal papillomacular infarction with associated oedema due to cilioretinal artery occlusion illustrated on colour image and optical coherent tomography (figure 1). Fundus examination of the left eye showed multiple retinal haemorrhages with cotton wool spots (figure 2). Fluorescein angiography revealed delayed filling of the cilioretinal artery, consistent with cilioretinal artery occlusion (figure 3). Further examination revealed severe systemic hypertension (229/ 170 mm Hg) with a regular heart rate of 98 bpm. He was sent to the emergency room for lowering blood pressure and was admitted to cardiology to rule out secondary hypertension. Left ventricular hypertrophy was demonstrated on echocardiogram. No significant findings were identified by renal angiogram and brain CT. There was no evidence of secondary hypertension. After 8 weeks, retinal changes were completely resolved with improvement of vision in his right eye to 20/30. Cilioretinal artery occlusions occur in three clinical settings: as an isolated occlusion, in association with central retinal vein occlusions and in conjunction with anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy. Interestingly enough, in the above case hypertensive crisis and associated retinopathy were the only clinical findings manifested with no other signs of underlying vascular occlusive disease.