Spontaneous Visual Acuity Recovery After Cilioretinal Artery Occlusion Combined With Central Retinal Vein Occlusion in a Young Patient

This work illustrates the case of cilioretinal artery occlusion (CilRAO) combined with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in a young patient that resolved spontaneously. A 17-year-old male with an unremarkable medical history presented with acute painless loss of vision unilaterally. Upon ophthalmologic examination, retinal hemorrhages in all four quadrants and edema extending from the optic disc to the macula were reported. Using optical coherence technology (OCT) imaging and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), combined CilRAO/CRVO was diagnosed. The full medical evaluation was unremarkable. Within the next month, the patient had regained full visual acuity (VA) in the affected eye, and the retinal findings resolved without intervention. Combined CilRAO/CRVO is a common vascular pathology in young, otherwise healthy patients. It is commonly considered a hemodynamic block in the capillary bed, hence its hopeful prognosis. Nonetheless, several risk factors have been proposed that need to be eliminated. Despite the initial alarming symptoms, young patients with CilRAO/CRVO should be monitored closely, and intervention should be resorted to when necessary.