Central Retinal Artery Occlusion in the Elderly

In this discussion from the Academy’s Committee on Aging, Drs. Andrew Lee and Prem Subramanian explain how to identify and treat central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). Patients with CRAO often present to ophthalmologists with sudden and painless vision loss, relative afferent pupil defect (RAPD) and evidence of retinal ischemia on fundus imaging (e.g., cotton-wool spots). These patients should be sent to an emergency room with a stroke specialist as soon as possible. Approximately 30% of patients with CRAO have abnormal MRI findings, even in the absence of neurological symptoms.

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