Bilateral central retinal artery occlusion in a patient with acute pancreatitis.

PURPOSE: To illustrate a case of bilateral simultaneous central retinal artery occlusion in a patient with acute pancreatitis. METHODS: This patient presented to the emergency room with a 4-day history of acute painless bilateral loss of vision and was then immediately referred to the on-call ophthalmologist. PATIENT: This patient is a 47-year-old white man with a chronic history of alcohol abuse. RESULTS: Laboratory workup and computed tomography abdominal imaging were diagnostic of acute pancreatitis. DISCUSSION: It is postulated that the resultant complement activation with subsequent leukoembolization along with the combined effect of other variables led to microvascular damage resulting in bilateral central retinal artery occlusion.