RETINAL ARTERY OCCLUSION

• Retinal artery occlusion refers to occlusion of the central retinal artery and/or its branches, usually as a result of thrombo embolic phenomena
• Central retinal artery occlusion is characterized by sudden painless loss of vision and a relative afferent papillary defect
• Branch retinal occlusion present with specific patterns of visual field defects depending on the branch involved
• Common age of onset is > 60 years , It is more common in males than in females and is usually unilateral but rarely may be bilateral

• Occlusive disorders of retinal vessels are more common in patients suffering from hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases
• Emboli from the carotid artery and those of cardiac Origin
• Atherosclerosis-related thrombosis
• Raised intraocular pressure
• Vasculitis – Rare cause

Clinically retinal artery occlusion may present as

• Central retinal artery occlusion (60%)
• Branch artery occlusion (35%)
• Cilioretinal Artery occlusion (5%).

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO)

It occurs due to obstruction at the level of lamina cribrosa

Symptoms

• Sudden painless loss of vision occurring over seconds in one eye (often described as
• Transient visual loss

Signs

• Visual acuity is markedly reduced
• Direct pupillary reflex is absent and relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) is positive

Branch Retinal artery occlusion

• Sudden onset of visual field defects (scotomas) in the affected eye
• Relative afferent pupilary defect is absent
• Opthalmoscopic findings - Greyish white discolouration of the retinal quadrant supplied by the affected vessel , Retinal emboli / plaques

• Visual acuity is markedly reduced
• Ophthalmoscopy -Narrowing of retinal arteries
• Fundus examination - Marked narrowing of retinal arteries, Milky white discolouration of Retina , Cherry-red spot in the centre of the macula , Cattle tracking, e. segmentation of blood column is seen in the retinal veins 

• Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) -shows delay in arterial filing

• Immediate lowering of intraocular pressure
• Vasodilators and inhalation of a mixture of 5% carbon dioxide and 95% oxygen
• Laser photo disruption

Ayurvedic Treatment

Internal medicines

• Guduchyadi Kashayam
• Patoladi Gritha
• Chandraprabha vati
• Kaisora guggulu

Procedures

• Netra seka - Yasti + Darvi Ksheera Kashaya
• Jaloukavacharana – forehead and eyelid
• Virechana - Avipathi Choorna
• Nasya - Khseerabala avarthi
• Chandanadi anjana
• Shirodhara/ Siroabyanga – Asana manjistadi kera
• Tarpana –Jeevaneeya gana Gritha
• Putapaka