Occlusion of the central retinal vessels

Abstract

In Rhesus monkeys experimental occlusion of the central retinal vein (in six), central retinal artery (in one), and both the artery and the vein (in three) was done. The occlusion of the vein produced engorgement, turgidity, and distension of the retinal veins which subsided in about sixteen to thirty-six days. No retinal haemor-rhages were seen. The occlusion of the artery produced the typical characteristic picture of the occlusion of the central artery. The simultaneous occlusion of both the artery and the vein produced a fundus picture entirely characteristic of so-called central retinal vein occlusion. Histopathological examination revealed no retinal changes on occlusion of the central retinal vein, but haemorrhages with destruction of the inner retinal layers on simultaneous occlusion of the artery and the vein. The study is very suggestive of the importance of arterial insufficiency in the production of the clinical picture labelled central retinal vein occlusion. The pertinent literature on the subject is reviewed.