Cilioretinal artery occlusion: Vascular occlusion

DESCRIPTION
The cilioretinal artery is so-called because it arises from the posterior ciliary circulation and perfuses the retina. It is a congenital anomaly, being present in only 20-30 per cent of people. The cilioretinal artery is seen ophthalmoscopically as a single vessel emerging from the edge of the optic disc, most commonly toward the macula.

Both the central retinal artery and the cilioretinal artery share the same main vascular supply, so that vascular disturbances affecting the internal carotid artery or ophthalmic artery will have a similar effect on both the major retinal artery as well as the cilioretinal artery.

However, once in the orbit, the ophthalmic artery branches into the central retinal artery, the posterior ciliary arteries and the muscular branches. For this reason, an occlusion of the cilioretinal artery can occur without the central retinal artery being affected.

Cilioretinal artery occlusion may result from embolism or vascular hypertension and there are associations with vasculitis (for example, giant cell arteritis, see arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy or AION) and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).
 
SYMPTOMS
Moderate blurring of vision, usually unilateral may be reported.