Anaemic Retinopathy

In anaemia, retinal changes are liable to occur when

haemoglobin level falls by 50% and are consistently
present when it is below 35% (5 gm%). Duration and
type of anaemia do not influence the occurrence of
retinopathy.
Pathogenesis involves factors like anoxia, venous
stasis, angiospasm, increased capillary permeability,
and thrombocytopenia.
Characteristc features of anaemic retinopathy are as
below:
• Fundus background becomes pale
• Retinal arterioles are also pale
• Retinal veins are tortuous and dilated
• Retinal haemorrhages, superficial flame shaped
and preretinal (subhyaloid) may be seen in the
posterior half of fundus
• Roth spots, i.e., haemorrhages with white center
and platelet-fibrin emboli constitute the white
centre
• Cotton wool spots may also be seen especially
in patients with coexisting thrombocytopenia in
aplastic anaemia