Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion as the Initial Sign of Giant Cell Arteritis

Purpose To describe a patient whose initial sign of giant cell arteritis was a branch retinal artery occlusion. Methods We examined a 77-year-old woman who developed arteritic anterior ischemie optic neuropathy three weeks after an isolated nonembolic branch retinal artery occlusion occurred in the same eye. Results The diagnosis of giant cell arteritis was confirmed by temporal artery biopsy after the patient was treated with intravenous corticosteroids. Conclusions Although a rare cause of branch retinal vascular occlusion, giant cell arteritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a nonembolic branch retinal artery occlusion in elderly patients.