Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate characteristic findings and functional outcome of this rare type of retinal vascular occlusion in a large patient series.
Patients and methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients with a cilioretinal artery obstruction (CAO) seen at the University Eye Clinic Mainz (Germany) over a ten-year period between 1/1999 and 12/2008 was undertaken. The mean follow-up amounted to 42 months.
Results: Thirty-three eyes were diagnosed with CAO. Three distinct groups were differentiated: (i) isolated CAO in 20/33 eyes; visual outcome achieving 20/50 in 17/20 eyes; (ii) CAO combined with central retinal vein occlusion in 9/33 eyes; visual outcome achieving 20/50 in 5/9 eyes; (iii) CAO combined with anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy in 4/33 eyes; associated with giant cell arteriitis in 4/4 eyes; visual outcome achieving 20/160 in 1/4 eyes.
Conclusions: The visual prognosis of CAO is significantly better than for other types of retinal artery occlusions, with the exception of cases associated with giant cell arteriitis.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.