The Histopathology of Early Central Retinal Artery Occlusion

Abstract

The classic ophthalmoscopic picture of total central retinal artery occlusion is well known, as is the histopathologic picture of old postocclusive change in the retina and optic nerve. The etiology of central retinal artery occlusion is varied, and is thought to include such diverse mechanisms as atheroma formation, 1 emboli of atheromatous 2 and non-atheromatous nature, 3 spasm of the central retinal artery, dissecting aneurysm, 4 migraine, 5 and foreign body obstruction. 6 The purpose of this paper is to report a case of central retinal artery occlusion in which the patient died 68 hours following his occlusion. Both eyes were subsequently studied histologically. Because postocclusive scarring had not had time to develop, the mechanism by which arterial occlusion had occurred could readily be seen. The associated retinal changes are also reported. Report of Case The patient, a 49-year-old white male physician with a long history of moderate hypertension with