Objective
To investigate the clinical characteristics and mechanisms of ocular manifestations
related to carotid artery stenosis.
Methods
The general clinic data and related ocular manifestations in 124 patients with
carotid artery stenosis were retrospectively.
Results
In the 124 patients, 36 (29%) had ocular manifestations, and 28 (22. 6 %)
complained the ocular discomfort as the first symptom. Among the 36 patients,
31 patients (86.1%) had been disclosed unilateral or double stenosis of internal
carotid artery by carotid Doppler ultrasound examination, and the result of digital subtract angiography revealed middle and severe degree of internal carotid artery stenosis in 8 and 23 patients respectively. There was no statistic difference of incidence of ocular manifestations between 67 patients of severe internal carotid artery stenosis and 34 patients with middle one（chi;２test,P =0.266 2，P＞0.05). The ocular manifestations included amaurosis fugax (52.8%),acute decline or loss of the visual ability and defect of visual fields (36.1%), binocular diplopia (13.9%), ptosis (13.9%), and persistent high intraocular pressure(2.8%) one patient might had several ocular manifestations simultaneously. In 36 patients, central retinal artery occlusion had been diagnosed in 4, venous stasis retinopathy in 1,central or branch retinal vein occlusion in 6, neovascular glaucoma in 1, and anterior ischemic opticneuropathy in 2. One patient with double occlusion of internal carotid artery didnrsquo;t have any ocular manifestation.
Conclusion
Carotid artery stenosis, especially internal carotid artery may lead to acute or
chronic ocular ischemic lesions, and the occurrence of ocular manifestations in
chronic ocular ischemic lesions relates to compensa tion of collateral circulation；patients with ocular ischemic lesions are recomm end to undergo a routine carotid artery examination.
(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006,22:376-378)
