Cilioretinal Artery Occlusion Following the Intranasal Injection of Corticosteroid

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report a case of cilioretinal artery occlusion following the intranasal injection of corticosteroids. METHODS: A 52-year-old man was referred to the ophthalmologic clinic due to a marked loss of vision in his right eye immediately after endoscopic sinus surgery. At that time, his vision was noted to be counting fingers in the right eye. His pupil was mid-dilated, fixed, and did not respond to light on examination. On ophthalmoscopy, macula edema with retinal ischemia, and a cherry-red spot were seen in the posterior pole of the retina. Ocular massage was carried out immediately after ophthalmologic examination. Three days later, visual acuity in the right eye improved to 0.15. Fluorescein angiography revealed filling defects of the cilioretinal artery and peripheral branches of the retinal arteries. In addition, areas of nonperfusion were observed. RESULTS: During the follow-up periods, macula edema resolved and visual acuity in the right eye improved to 1.2 after 3 months. Fluorescein angiogram was repeated and showed that the filling defects had disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: Retinal artery occlusion can occur after an intranasal injection of corticosteroids due to embolization of retinal circulation. This condition can be improved without complications by no other specific therapy.