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Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion

Article initiated by: Matthew Santos, MD, Robert H. Janigian, Jr. M.D.

All authors and Vinay A. Shah M.D., Leo A. Kim, MD, PhD, Robert H. Janigian, Jr. M.D., Koushik Tripathy, MD (AIIMS), FRCS (Glasgow), Neelakshi Bhagat, MD, FACS, Jennifer I
contributors: Lim MD

Assigned editor: Leo A. Kim, MD, PhD

Review: Assigned status Update Pending

by Leo A. Kim, MD, PhD on June 1, 2023.

Retinal artery occlusion

Branch retinal artery occlusion describes decreased arterial blood flow to the retina leading to ischemic damage. The severity of visual loss
depends upon the area of retinal tissue affected by the vascular occlusion.
DiseasesDB 11410
Contents [hide]
ICD-10 H34.2
1 Disease Entity
1.1 Disease MedlinePlus 001028
1.2 Etiology
MeSH D015356
1.3 Risk Factors
1.4 General Pathology
1.5 Pathophysiology
1.6 Primary prevention
2 Diagnosis
2.1 History
2.2 Signs
2.3 Symptoms
2.4 Clinical diagnosis
2.5 Diagnostic procedures
2.6 Laboratory test
2.7 Differential diagnosis
3 Management
3.1 General treatment
3.2 Medical therapy
3.3 Surgery
3.4 Complications
3.5 Prognosis
4 Additional Resources
5 References

Disease Entity
ICD 9 Codes

362.32 Retinal arterial branch occlusion

362.33 Partial retinal arterial occlusion
362.34 Transient retinal arterial occlusion

ICD10 Codes

H34.23 Retinal artery branch occlusion

H34.231 Retinal artery branch occlusion, right eye
H34.232 Retinal artery branch occlusion, left eye
H34.233 Retinal artery branch occlusion, bilateral
H34.234 Retinal artery branch occlusion, unspecified eye

Disease
Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO), a common disorder of the ocular vasculature, stems from the occlusion of a branch of the central retinal artery. BRAO represent 38% of all acute retinal
artery obstructions[1]. The resultant hypoperfusion of retinal tissue may result in vision loss. While frequently described under one heading, two distinct subtypes comprise the condition:
permanent BRAO and transient BRAO [2]. More permanent occlusion typically results in more severe visual losses. Transient BRAO bears a better visual prognosis.

Etiology
Any condition which causes decreased perfusion in a branch retinal artery can result in BRAO. Typically, this hypoperfusion results from emboli to a branch of the central retinal artery. On
funduscopic examination, emboli are visualized in 62% of cases. They often occur at the bifurcation of vessels, and the temporal retinal arteries are involved in 98% of cases [3]. The embolus may be
composes of cholesterol or fibrin. Other less common forms of embolic sources include calcified cardiac valves, fat emboli from long bone fractures, air emboli from trauma or surgery, talc emboli
from IV drug use and synthetic emboli from interventional procedures.

Nonembolic causes of BRAO include vasospasm secondary to migraines, cocaine abuse and sildenafil, vasculitidies such as Behcets Disease, coagulopathies, and inflammatory/infectious conditions
such as Toxoplasmosis, Herpes Zoster, Lyme disease and Giant Cell Arteritis. Susac syndrome is a rare disease with clinical features including encephalopathy, sensorineural hearing loss, and BRAO.
This particular cause of BRAO possesses an auto-immune etiology, with antiendothelial cell antibodies playing an important role. Endothelial cell injury, the accumulation of thrombotic material,
and narrowing of the vessel lumen is thought to result in BRAO[4].

BRAO has been reported to occur following retrobulbar anesthesia for intraocular sugery. Acute vasoocclusion occurred following the administration of mepivacaine which contained the
preservatives methyl- and propyl para-hydroxybenzoate at a tenfold higher rate when compared to those anesthetized with preservative-free mepivacaine[5]. Some vasospasm, whether from
trauma, compression, or a reaction to the anesthetic was suggested as a possible explanation.

Risk Factors
Risk factors for BRAO include systemic conditions which preclude an individual towards vascular narrowing: hypertension, carotid occlusive disease or atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease,
and hypercholesterolemia[1]. Diabetes mellitus and transient ischemic attack/cerebrovascular accident occur more frequently in patients with BRAO compared to the general US population[6].
Smoking has been associated with BRAO as well[6]. BRAO more commonly occurs in elderly patients and is an extremely rare occurrence in pediatric patient populations[7].

General Pathology
Histopathological changes following BRAO occur due to ischemic changes in the retinal tissue. These ischemic changes may be seen in the corresponding retinal quadrant, depending on which
vessel is occluded. Inner retinal edema occurs acutely, with atrophy occurring in more permanent occlusion[8]. In mouse models, at 24 hours following occlusion, Pyknotic nuclei, vauolated spaces,
and degenerative changes may be noted by light microscopy in the ganglion cell and inner nuclear layers. Approximately 80% of retinal ganglion cells demonstrate nuclear loss after 21 days[9].

Pathophysiology
In response to ischemia, apoptotic cell death of the inner retinal layers occurs following prolonged BRAO. With increasing severity of occlusion, more apoptosis occurs. Several changes in gene
expression have been elucidated following retinal artery occlusion in mouse models. T-cell antigen 1 (Thy-1) mRNA levels decrease gradually, suggestive of cellular loss following apoptosis.
Additionally, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which responds to the early stages of hypoxia, peaks at 12 or 24 hours after damage to retinal cells[9].

Primary prevention
Given its association with systemic disorders which result in luminal narrowing of blood vessels, primary prevention of BRAO should be aimed at chronic management of conditions such as
hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus. Smoking cessation counseling should be offered to prevent BRAO and myriad other medical conditions.

Diagnosis
History
Both central and branch retinal artery occlusions present as an acute onset of painless, monocular visual impairment. BRAO often occurs with a more focal loss of vision, since it only affects a
branch of the retinal artery. Presenting visual acuities (VA) differ greatly between BRAO and CRAO. In CRAO, 10.8% of patients present with a VA of 20/40 or better while 74% present with a VA of
counting fingers (CF) or worse. In permanent BRAO, 74% of patients present with VA of 20/40 or better; in those with transient BRAO, 94% of patients present with 20/40 or better[2].

Signs
Retinal ischemia is most frequently demonstrated by the presence of cotton wool spots (nerve fiber layer infarcts) and retinal whitening on funduscopic examination. In BRAO, this retinal whitening
follows the course of a branch artery[10]. This whitening occurs as a result of intracellular edema and, eventually, apoptosis associated with ischemic changes. A distribution following an arterial
branch differentiates this entity from CRAO. Retinal emboli may be observed on funduscopic examination in 62% of cases[3] with the most common site being at a bifurcation where the luminal
diameter is narrowest.

Symptoms
Patients present with an acute onset of painless monocular visual loss or visual field loss.

Clinical diagnosis
Classical clinical findings consistent with BRAO include the acute onset of monocular visual deterioration. This visual loss is often painless. BRAO should be differentiated from CRAO. Cotton wool
spots in the distribution of a branch retinal artery, corroborated by fluorescein angiography, suggest BRAO[6]. Classification of BRAO can also be subdivided by its temporal profile and the
particular vessels implicated. BRAO may be described as permanent BRAO, transient BRAO, or cilioretinal artery occlusion (CLRAO), specifically. CLRAO necessitates a unique distinction because
its proximal blood supply arises from the posterior ciliary artery (choroidal circulation), not the central retinal artery[11].

Diagnostic procedures
Perfusion of the retinal arteries may be visualized using fluorescein angiography (FA). On FA, plaques within the vessel lumen, a slowly progressive anterior front of the dye, delayed filling, and
retinal ischemia may be observed. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) may prove useful in identifying retinal edema and atrophy associated with retinal ischemia and
comparing these ischemic changes to adjacent, unaffected retinal tissue[10]. In acute phase, the scan through the affected area in BRAO shows increased inner retinal reflectivity and in late phase
inner retinal thinning ensues.

Carotid evaluation is imperative when no other etiology is apparent in the elderly and two dimensional or transesphogeal echocardiographic study of the cardiac valves and aorta assist in locating
embolic sources of retinal occlusions[6]. MRI of the brain should be ordered when Susac Syndrome is contemplated.

Laboratory test
Erythrocyte sedimentation and C reactive protein evaluation are important tests in determining whether central retinal artery occlusion occurs secondary to giant cell arteritis (GCA). Since the
cilioretinal artery is a branch of the posterior ciliary artery, CLRAO is the only subdivision of BRAO which can occur secondarily to GCA. Therefore, these tests also assist in determining whether
CLRAO alone occurs due to GCA. BRAO, not of the cilioretinal artery, does not typically result from giant cell arteritis (GCA) as described in the paper by Dr Sohan Singh Hayreh. This vasculitis
affects medium and large arteries only; the branches of the retinal arteries are arterioles which are too small to be affected by GCA[6].

Differential diagnosis
The differential diagnosis for sudden onset monocular vision loss includes CRAO, BRAO, ischemic optic neuropathy, and retinal detachment[12].

Management
General treatment
The most critical aspect of managing patients with BRAO is to assess their risk of stroke. Accordingly, all patients should undergo examination by an internist with carotid ultrasound and/or
echocardiography as needed. Referral to a stroke center is appropriate. BRAO often resolves spontaneously, especially those which are of a transient nature. The literature suggests that the
presenting VA with BRAO provides a serviceable indication of visual prognosis. Because prolonged ischemia often produces irreversible damage, and many occurrences of BRAO improve
spontaneously, aggressive management in BRAO is not pursued frequently[1][2].

Medical therapy
Antiplatelet therapy as needed
Intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy for neovascular complications.

Surgery
Surgical or LASER (Nd-YAG) embolectomy has been tried with variable success. Systemic evaluation is the most important part of management.
Carotid endarterectomy when indicated
Laser photocoagulation of ischemic retina for neovascular complications.

Complications
The most damaging complication of BRAO is neovascularization (NV) in response to the retinal ischemia [13].

Prognosis
The prognosis of visual improvement following BRAO correlates with the initial presenting visual acuity. In permanent BRAO, findings demonstrate that 74% of patients present initially with a VA
of 20/40 or better, and 89% of patients with permanent BRAO present as such on follow-up. In transient BRAO, 94% of patients present initially with a VA of 20/40 or better, and 100% of patients
with transient BRAO present as such on follow-up [2].

Additional Resources
Gregori NZ. Retinal Artery Occlusion. American Academy of Ophthalmology. EyeSmart/Eye health. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/stroke-affecting-eye. Accessed January 06, 2023.
Porter D, Vemulakonda GA. Blood Pressure. American Academy of Ophthalmology. EyeSmart/Eye health. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/anatomy/blood-pressure-list. Accessed January 06,
2023.

References
1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mason JO, 3rd, Shah AA, Vail RS, Nixon PA, Ready EL, Kimble JA. Branch retinal
artery occlusion: visual prognosis. American journal of ophthalmology. Sep
2008;146(3):455-457.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Hayreh SS. Ocular vascular occlusive disorders: natural history of visual
outcome. Prog Retin Eye Res. Jul 2014;41:1-25.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ros MA, Magargal LE, Uram M. Branch retinal-artery obstruction: a review of 201
eyes. Annals of ophthalmology. Mar 1989;21(3):103-107.
4. ↑ Greco A, De Virgilio A, Gallo A, et al. Susac's syndrome--pathogenesis, clinical variants
and treatment approaches. Autoimmunity reviews. Aug 2014;13(8):814-821.
5. ↑ Tappeiner C, Garweg JG. Retinal vascular occlusion after vitrectomy with retrobulbar
anesthesia-observational case series and survey of literature. Graefe's archive for clinical
and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und
experimentelle Ophthalmologie. Dec 2011;249(12):1831-1835.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Hayreh SS, Podhajsky PA, Zimmerman MB. Retinal artery occlusion:
associated systemic and ophthalmic abnormalities. Ophthalmology. Oct
2009;116(10):1928-1936.
7. ↑ Stepanov A, Hejsek L, Jiraskova N, Feuermannova A, Rencova E, Rozsival P. Transient
branch retinal artery occlusion in a 15-year-old girl and review of the literature. Biomed
Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. Sep 2015;159(3):508-511.
8. ↑ Murthy RK, Grover S, Chalam KV. Sequential spectral domain OCT documentation of
retinal changes after branch retinal artery occlusion. Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland,
N.Z.). 2010;4:327-329.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Goldenberg-Cohen N, Dadon S, Avraham BC, et al. Molecular and histological
changes following central retinal artery occlusion in a mouse model. Experimental eye
research. Oct 2008;87(4):327-333.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Coady PA, Cunningham ET, Jr., Vora RA, et al. Spectral domain optical coherence
tomography findings in eyes with acute ischaemic retinal whitening. The British journal of
ophthalmology. May 2015;99(5):586-592.
11. ↑ Hayreh SS, Podhajsky PA, Zimmerman MB. Branch retinal artery occlusion: natural
history of visual outcome. Ophthalmology. Jun 2009;116(6):1188-1194 e1181-1184.
12. ↑ Lawlor M, Perry R, Hunt BJ, Plant GT. Strokes and vision: The management of ischemic
arterial disease affecting the retina and occipital lobe. Survey of ophthalmology. Jul-Aug
2015;60(4):296-309.
13. ↑ Hayreh SS, Podhajsky P. Ocular neovascularization with retinal vascular occlusion. II.
Occurrence in central and branch retinal artery occlusion. Archives of ophthalmology.
Oct 1982;100(10):1585-1596.

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