Bilateral retinal artery occlusions with carotid artery occlusions-ocular and cerebral hemodynamic changes

PURPOSE: To introduce a case of bilateral retinal artery occlusions with carotid occlusions to achieve a fuller understanding of hemodynamic flow changes and the origin of emboli. OBSERVATIONS: A 58-year-old male presented with binocular vision loss. Fundus examination revealed bilateral retinal whitening with multiple emboli. Cherry red spot was surrounded and shaped by white edematous ischemic retina. FAG showed retinal refilling but not to the macula and choroidal background. Carotid arteriography and color Doppler images demonstrated bilateral carotid occlusions. CT angiography showed compensatory flows perfused from vertebral arteries for the brain. Orbital color Doppler images revealed bilateral reversed ophthalmic flows indicating another compensatory flow arising from external carotid/ophthalmic collaterals to both eyes. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: Reversed ophthalmic flow indicates the presence of external carotid/ophthalmic collaterals as the source of ocular blood supply and the origin of emboli. In this case, all the embolic, hemodynamic, and serotonin mechanisms may be responsible for the pathogenesis. RAO with multiple emboli is an important sign warning critical flow changes of carotid occlusions.