Ocular ischaemic syndrome (OIS) is a severe form of chronic ischaemia of both anterior and posterior segments of the eye as well other orbital structures supplied by the ophthalmic artery. It is thought to be due to chronic hypoperfusion when carotid artery stenosis is greater than 90%. It typically affects patients during seventh decade or more, and it is usually associated with diabetes, heart and cerebrovascular disease. In rare cases, OIS may represent the first manifestation of a life-threatening carotid artery stenosis. We report a case of a 62-year-old patient, who presented an ocular ischaemic syndrome due to atheromatous occlusion of the ophthalmic artery [1].

62-year-old patient, followed for high blood pressure during 10 years, presented for 3 months, a progressive decrease in visual acuity of his right eye.

At examination, right eye vision was no perception of light. Cornea was clear, there was an important episcleral venous dilatation, mid-dilated non-reactive pupil with uveal ectropion, important iris rubeosis and total cataract (Figure 1). Anterior chamber was shallow with angle neovascularization on gonioscopy. However, intraocular pressure was 10 mmHg. Posterior segment not visualized on ophthalmoscopy, but was normal on ophthalmic B-scan ultrasonography. The contralateral eye examination found no abnormalities. All these signs make of this case a typical clinical presentation of ocular ischaemic syndrome. Doppler ultrasound showed 85% carotid artery stenosis in the right side, and 60% at the left one.

Ocular ischaemic syndrome is an uncommon condition which is the result of chronic hypoperfusion secondary to ipsilateral atherosclerotic carotid stenosis more than 90% resulting in 50% reduction of ipsilateral perfusion pressure [2]. It typically affects patients during seventh decade and usually associated with diabetes, heart and cerebrovascular disease.

Symptoms of carotid artery disease frequently present to ophthalmologists. Though these may be sight threatening, they may represent the first signs of life-threatening carotid artery stenosis. These include cerebral transient ischaemic attacks, transient monocular blindness (amaurosis fugax), central or branch retinal artery occlusion, hypotensive retinopathy, and ocular ischaemic syndrome [3]. Of these associations with carotid artery disease, OIS presents the most challenging condition for the ophthalmologist

The ocular ischemic syndrome is unilateral is 80% of cases and affects both anterior and posterior segments. It presents usually with gradual vison loss over several weeks and occasionally with amaurosis fugax. In anterior segment examination we can observe diffuse episcleral injection, iris atrophy with rubeosis iridis which often progresses to neovascular glaucoma. Cataract is developed in advanced cases. Intraocular pressure may be very elevated related to neovascular glaucoma, or low, even with rubeosis, due to ciliary ischemia . at ocular fundus examination, venous dilatation, arteriolar narrowing are usually seen, with hemorrhages and occasionally papillary edema and proliferative retinopathy in advanced cases [4]. Fluorescein angiography shows delayed choroidal filling in early phases with prolonged arteriovenous transit time. Diagnosis of the atherosclerotic carotid stenosis is made by Carotid imaging (Doppler ultrasonography, Magnetic resonance angiography). Management of the disease is difficult, and needs collaboration between ophthalmologist, cardiologist and cardiovascular surgeon [2].

Ocular treatment is directed towards the treatment of anterior segment inflammation, control of retinal ischemia, and the treatment of raised intraocular pressure and neovascular glaucoma. Since ocular ischaemic syndrome is usually an indicator of carotid artery stenosis, patients should be referred for neurological and cardiovascular assessment. Carotid endarterectomy has been shown to benefit patients with symptomatic cerebral ischemia when there is greater than 70% carotid artery stenosis [5].

In conclusion, Ocular ischemic syndrome is an uncommon but potentially blinding condition that may be misdiagnosed. Ocular manifestations in elderly patients, especially with cardiovascular risk factors, should be referred for neurological and cardiovascular assessment.