Retinal artery occlusion as the manifestation of left atrial myxoma: a case report

BACKGROUND: Retinal artery occlusion caused by myxoma is relatively rare. There are several points that should be taken into consideration to avoid overlooking this disorder. CASE PRESENTATION: This case report describes a 43-year-old woman with sudden vision loss in her left eye for 20 days after single sudden syncope. Fundus examination of the left eye showed obscure boundary of optic disc with, reflective dispersion of the retina and poor light reflex of central fovea. A retinal artery occlusion was found in her left eye. Echocardiography revealed a tumor in the left atrium. Visual capacity improved a little during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: In any patients with retinal artery occlusion, detailed medical history and echocardiography should be carried out to exclude heart diseases.