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Consultant Ophthalmologist, Cataract & Refractive Surgeon
BMedSci BM BS MRCS MRCSEd MRCOpth FRCOphth MMedLaw PgD Cataract & Refractive Surgery

Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO)

What's going on?

The central retinal artery has been blocked by an embolus or some compressive/inflammatory process. The retina dies within approximately 90 minutes and so you experience visual loss.

What will my ophthalmologist see?

We will be able to see that the blood vessels have been completely blocked off.

What will my ophthalmologist do for me?

We will make sure that there is no other treatable cause and we will advise you with regards the likely prognosis for vision.

What do I need to know?

If there has been no recovery within 24–48 hours, the news is bad. The visual prognosis is poor and the likelihood of improvement is slim.

Your other eye becomes your pride and joy so you need to protect it for us. If you have any problem with vision in your good eye let us know immediately.