Urgences ophtalmologiques d'origine artérielle chez le patient âgé

Arterial ophthalmologic emergencies are mainly represented by the occlusions of the central artery of the retina (OCAR), or one of its branches, and by the acute anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AAION). These two disorders share several common features, such as rapid visual decrease or visual field defect, very severe visual prognosis, and pathogenic mechanisms. Indeed, if the arteriosclerosis is the most frequent cause of OCAR and AAION, it is a crucial point to search for an embologenic disease or the arteritis of Horton. In the latter case of any doubt, it is mandatory to begin a treatment with intravenous steroids to avoid disorders in the other eye or in other arterial territories.