Central retinal artery occlusion resembling Purtscher-like retinopathy

Takuji Kurimoto¹, Norio Okamoto², Hidehiro Oku¹, Yuko Kanbara¹, Tomohiko Etomi¹, Masahiro Tonari¹, Tsunehiko Ikeda^1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Japan; ²Okamoto Eye Clinic, Suita, Osaka, Japan

Abstract: This paper reports three cases of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) with Purtscher-like retinopathy and good recovery of visual function. The three cases of CRAO had similar fundus changes, ie, cotton wool patches surrounding the optic disc and whitening of the retina surrounding the fovea with a cherry red spot. Fluorescein angiography showed a delay of arm-to-retina circulation time and a partial defect of choroid circulation. Although the three cases were treated by different regimens of steroid pulse therapy and antiplatelet therapy, visual function recovered well and all disturbances of the retinal and choroid circulations resolved. Although eyes with a CRAO normally have a poor visual prognosis, our three cases responded well to the treatments and recovered good visual function. Thus, cases showing fundus changes similar to our three cases may have a pathogenesis different from that of a complete CRAO.

Keywords: central retinal artery occlusion, cotton wool patches, Purtscher retinopathy, steroid therapy

A Letter to the Editor has been received and published for this article.