A Case of Ocular Ischemic Syndrome

ABSTRACT

Ocular ischemic syndrome, characterized by rubeosis iridis, anterior uveitis, retinal arterial narrowing, retinal hemorrhage, cherry red spot, and neovascularization of the disc and/ or retina, is due to anterior and posterior segment ischemia caused by carotid artery obstruction. A 67-year-old man presented a typical ocular ishemic syndrome. The patient complained marked visual disturbance of the both eyes and headache for 15 days. On slit-lamp examination, there were no abnormal findings of the cornea, iris, and lens. Funduscopic finding revealed bilateral edema of the optic disc, marked attenuation of the arteriole with focal constriction, and dilatation of the veins. Fluorescein angiography showed prolonged arm-to-retinal circulation and retinal arteriovenous transit time, multiple microaneurysms, and staining retinal vessels of the both eyes. About 1+1/2 months later, iritis, rubeosis iridis, and cataract of both eyes were noticed. In carotid angiogram the left internal carotid artery was completely occluded, and the right internal carotid artery was incompletely occluded. About 7 months later, he died of CVA.