Abstract
Background
The aetiology of occlusion is thought to differ for branch retinal vein and central retinal vein types. This communication reports on an unusual presentation of two retinal vein occlusions in one eye of a patient with optic disc tortuosity where the occlusion was thought to occur at a site usually seen in central retinal vein occlusion.
Methods
An 88-year-old woman presented with sudden-onset painless loss of central vision. Fundal examination of the affected eye revealed one infero-temporal retinal vein occlusion affecting the macula and a second vein occlusion affecting the supero-nasal quadrant with associated optic disc tortuosity. She was investigated for cardiovascular risk factors.
Results
Treatment had already been started for systemic hypertension and blood markers were unremarkable. Conservative management was recommended. 12 weeks later, fluorescein angiography showed no ischaemia.
Conclusion
We report an unusual case of two co-existent and opposing retinal vein occlusions where obstruction was thought to occur at the trunk of the central retinal vein at or near the level of the lamina cribrosa, a site usually associated with the formation of hemi-vein or central retinal vein occlusion. This had occurred as a result of tortuous vasculature at the optic disc. This unusual case lends weight to previously suggested hypotheses of retinal vein occlusion.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Awan KJ (1976) Anomalies of the retinal veins and their incidence. J Pediatr Ophthalmol 13(6):353–359
Awan KJ (1977) Arterial vascular anomalies of the retina. Arch Ophthalmol 95(7):1197–1202
Chopdar A (1982) Hemi-central retinal vein occlusion. Pathogenesis, clinical features, natural history and incidence of dual trunk retinal vein. Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK 102(2):241–248
Williamson TH (1997) Central retinal vein occlusion: what’s the story? Br J Ophthalmol 81(8):698–704
Zhao J, Sastry SM, Sperduto RD, Chew EY, Remaley NA (1993) Arteriovenous crossing patterns in branch retinal vein occlusion. the eye disease case-control study group. Ophthalmology 100(3):423–428
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
The authors have no financial or proprietary interest in any product mentioned in this article
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Khan, J., Chong, V. Two retinal vein occlusions in a patient with venous tortuosity at the optic disc. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 245, 313–314 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-0194-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-0194-1