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

Abstract

To illustrate a case of bilateral simultaneous central retinal artery occlusion in a patient with acute pancreatitis. 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. This patient is a 47-year-old white man with a chronic history of alcohol abuse. Laboratory workup and computed tomography abdominal imaging were diagnostic of acute pancreatitis. 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.