👁️ Special Senses🟢 BasicRetina

Retinal Vascular Occlusions

Sudden blockage of the artery or vein of the retina, an important cause of sudden painless loss of vision.

Key points

The retina is fed by the central retinal artery and drained by the central retinal vein, and blockage of either harms vision.
Central retinal artery occlusion causes a sudden, painless, severe loss of vision, with a pale retina and a cherry-red spot at the centre.
It behaves like a stroke of the eye, often from an embolus, and the retina is damaged quickly when it has no blood.
Central retinal vein occlusion causes a less sudden blurring, with a retina full of scattered haemorrhages described as a stormy sunset.
These occlusions are linked to high blood pressure, diabetes and other risks to the blood vessels.

Memory trick

Artery occlusion is a sudden painless severe loss with a pale retina and cherry-red spot (an eye stroke from an embolus); vein occlusion is blurring with scattered haemorrhages (stormy sunset); both link to vascular risk.

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👁️ Special Senses🟢 BasicRetina

Retinal Vascular Occlusions

Sudden blockage of the artery or vein of the retina, an important cause of sudden painless loss of vision.

Key points

The retina is fed by the central retinal artery and drained by the central retinal vein, and blockage of either harms vision.
Central retinal artery occlusion causes a sudden, painless, severe loss of vision, with a pale retina and a cherry-red spot at the centre.
It behaves like a stroke of the eye, often from an embolus, and the retina is damaged quickly when it has no blood.
Central retinal vein occlusion causes a less sudden blurring, with a retina full of scattered haemorrhages described as a stormy sunset.
These occlusions are linked to high blood pressure, diabetes and other risks to the blood vessels.

Memory trick

All of Ophthalmology More Special Senses