Retinal and Ophthalmic Artery Occlusions

An ophthalmic artery occlusion (OAO), central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), or, less commonly, a branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) can be associated with life-threatening conditions (e.g., carotid occlusive or cardiac valve disease). In patients over 50 years of age, one must additionally suspect giant cell arteritis (GCA) and should consider urgent systemic corticosteroid therapy when GCA is diagnosed or very likely in an attempt to preserve or recover vision in the affected eye and preserve in the contralateral eye.