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Objective-To investigate systematically the various associated systemic and ophthalmic abnormalities in different types of retinal artery occlusion (RAO). Design-Cohort study.Participants-439 consecutive untreated patients (499 eyes) with RAO, first seen in our clinic from 1973 to 2000.Methods-At first visit, all patients had a detailed ophthalmic and medical history, and comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation. Visual evaluation was done by recording visual acuity, using the Snellen visual acuity chart, and visual fields with a Goldmann perimeter. Initially they also had carotid Doppler/angiography and echocardiography. The same ophthalmic evaluation was performed at each follow-up visit.Main Outcome Measures-Demographic features, associated systemic and ophthalmic abnormalities and sources of emboli in various types of RAO.Results-RAO was classified into various types of central (CRAO) and branch (BRAO) artery occlusion. In both nonarteritic CRAO and BRAO the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular accidents were significantly higher compared to the prevalence of these conditions in the matched US population (all p<0.0001). Smoking prevalence, compared to the US population, was significantly higher for males (p=0.001) with nonarteritic CRAO and for females with BRAO (p=0.02). Ipsilateral internal carotid artery had ≥50% stenosis in 31% of nonarteritic CRAO patients and 30% of BRAO, and plaques in 71% of nonarteritic CRAO and 66% of BRAO. Abnormal echocardiogram with embolic source was seen in 52% of nonarteritic CRAO and 42% of BRAO. Neovascular glaucoma developed in only 2.5% of nonarteritic CRAO eyes.Conclusion-This study showed that in CRAO as well as BRAO the prevalence of various cardiovascular diseases and smoking was significantly higher compared to the prevalence of these conditions in the matched US population. Embolism is the most common cause of CRAO and BRAO;Correspondence to: Dr. S.S. Hayreh, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University Hospitals & Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1091, Telephone No. 319-356-2947 sohan-hayreh@uiowa.edu. The authors have no conflict of interest.Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. NIH Public Access Author ManuscriptOphthalmology. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2010 October 1. Published in final edited form as:Ophthalmology . 2009 October ; 116(10): 1928-1936. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2009.006. NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript plaque in the carotid artery is usually the source o...

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