A Case of Ocular Ischemic Syndrome Associated with Right Internal Carotid Artery Obstruction

ABSTRACT

Ocular ischemic syndrome(OIS) occurs secondary to severe carotid artery obstruction and includes various ocular signs and symptoms such as conreal edema, rubeosis iridis, neovascular glaucoma, hypoperfusion retinopathy, and choroidal perfusion disturbance. It is often missed or misdiagnosed in the early stage because of its very diverse and sometimes subtle initial presentations. Furthermore it is more difficult to differentiate the ocular ischemic syndrome from diabetic retinopathy or central retinal vein oclusion in early presentations. The early diagnosis is crucial for the care of this patient because OIS usually has a poor visual prognosis in the late stage and may be the presenting sign of serious cerebrovascular and ischemic heart disease. We have experienced a case of ocular ischemic syndrome in a 45 year old man with diabetic retinopathy and hypertensive retinopathy who presented with a neovascular glaucoma associated with ipsilateral internal carotid artery obstruction.