eye disorders
Blockage of Central Retinal Arteries and Branch Retinal Arteries
Treatment
Prevention by controlling risk factors Sometimes measures to lower pressure in the eye, including eyedrops, eye massage, or removing fluid from the eye with a needle Sometimes laser treatment of abnormal or bleeding blood vessels For giant cell arteritis, corticosteroids Because treatments tend not to be effective, preventing such blockages by controlling risk factors (for example, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other risk factors for atherosclerosis) is desirable. When blockage of a central retinal artery does occur, immediate treatment is often given in an attempt to unblock the retinal artery. However, treatments are rarely effective. Pressure inside the eye sometimes can be lowered by giving drugs that lower blood pressure (such astimololeye drops oracetazolamidetaken by mouth). Lowering the pressure inside the eye by massage or by anterior chamber paracentesis may dislodge a blood clot or embolus and allow it to enter a smaller branch of the vessel, thereby reducing the area of damage to the retina. People with suspected giant cell arteritis are given high-dose corticosteroids either by mouth or by vein as soon as possible. Laser treatment may be used to destroy abnormal blood vessels to treat or prevent neovascular glaucoma, prevent further vision loss from bleeding within the eye, or both. However, treatment of neovascular glaucoma is difficult. Because people with central artery occlusion have an increased risk of stroke, doctors immediately refer them to a specialized stroke center for further evaluation. 