eye disorders
Central Retinal Artery Occlusion and Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion
Diagnosis
Clinical evaluation Sometimes, color fundus photography andfluoresceinangiography The diagnosis is suspected when a patient has acute, painless, severe vision loss. Funduscopy is usually confirmatory.Fluoresceinangiography is often done and shows absence of perfusion in the affected artery. However, if patients present with acute transient monocular vision loss thought to be due to a thromboembolic event, imaging tests take unnecessary time and should be deferred if the diagnosis is clear. Once the diagnosis is made, carotid Doppler ultrasonography and echocardiography should be done to identify an embolic source so that further embolization can be prevented. If Giant Cell Arteritis is suspected, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein, and platelet count should be done immediately. These tests may not be necessary if an embolic plaque is visible in the central retinal artery. Because risk of stroke is increased, some centers rapidly evaluate patients similarly to those who have had stroke or transient ischemic attack. 