Central retinal artery occlusion with visual acuity recovery.: Case report

Background: We present a case study of a patient with sudden visual loss, who had 20/200 visual acuity and macular edema at initial evaluation. Angiographies showed no interruption of vascular flow and in the visual field a central island of vision in the inferior hemifield was identified, surrounded by absolute scotoma. Methods: Clinical aspect at the initial evaluation required a differential diagnosis between retinal and neural disease. The clinical approach used to integrate the retrospective diagnosis of central retinal artery occlusion is presented, and an explanation is proposed for the visual recovery after 4 months of visual loss (20/20 visual acuity). Results: Central retinal artery occlusion is a clinical diagnosis, but anatomical variations may modify the prognosis. Conclusions: Although the diagnosis of central retinal artery occlusion may be clinically evident, an angiography is required to evaluate the type of treatment to be instituted and to determine prognosis.