Sudden, painless blindness due to central retinal artery blockage (with pictures)

  The central retinal artery comes from the internal carotid artery branch – ophthalmic artery, which is a terminal artery without anastomotic branches, and causes retinal ischemia after blockage. There are many causes, mostly related to atherosclerosis in the elderly and embolic obstruction in the young. The clinical manifestations are rapid loss of vision but no light perception is rare, and some patients have vibronic black haze before the attack. The retinal clouding and edema in the posterior pole of the fundus, cherry red spots in the macula, thinning of retinal arteries, and retinal hemorrhage are rare. After a few weeks, the retinal edema subsided, the optic disc was pale, and the blood vessels became thin with white lines.  Irreversible damage occurs after 90 minutes because of complete retinal ischemia. Therefore, treatment should be rapid. IOP-lowering measures, pressure on the eye, anterior chamber puncture, retrobulbar anesthesia, and medication to lower pressure are taken. Oxygen inhalation. Take oral vasodilators such as nitroglycerin, isoamyl nitrite, aspirin, etc. Systematic examination was also performed to find the cause of the disease for symptomatic treatment.  This is a fundus image more than 10 hours after the blockage of the central artery. The superior temporal and inferior temporal branch arteries almost became white lines, and the patient’s vision could not be restored despite our emergency treatment, and this patient has a history of hypertension.  When there is a sudden loss of vision in the eye, it is important to go to the hospital immediately for treatment.