A case of branch retinal vein and artery occlusion following intranasal cocaine abuse

Abstract

The known ocular effects of cocaine abuse include nystagmus and retinal vascular occlusions, among others. Retinal vascular occlusions are rarely seen in young adults and are thus generally associated with hypercoagulable disorders. Increasing rates of cocaine abuse in Western countries have led to increased reports of vascular complications. In addition to common vascular complications of myocardial infarction and stroke, cocaine-induced vasospasm can manifest in visual impairment. Previously, only two case reports of central retinal artery occlusion have been reported in intranasal cocaine abusers. This case report details combined branch retinal artery occlusion and branch retinal vein occlusion in one eye of an intranasal cocaine abuser. A 40-year-old man presented to our clinic with sudden painless nasal field loss of his left eye. The patient reported a recent history of intranasal cocaine use. Fundus examination showed intraretinal hemorrhage in the superior papillary, superior retina, temporal macula, and retinal thickening. We present a case of a patient with unilateral branch retinal vein and artery occlusions, possibly associated with induction of vascular spasm following cocaine abuse.