Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO)

Central retinal artery occlusion is a sudden blockage of the main artery supplying the retina, causing rapid and often severe loss of vision in one eye.

Common symptoms

Sudden, painless loss of vision in one eye, often described as a curtain coming down or the world going grey, usually without warning signs.

Description

CRAO is an eye emergency in which the main artery supplying blood to the retina becomes blocked, usually by a clot or piece of plaque from elsewhere in the body. Without blood flow the retina cannot function, and vision is lost within minutes.

The condition is more common in older adults and in people with conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or heart rhythm problems. It is effectively a stroke of the eye, so urgent medical assessment is needed to look for the underlying cause and reduce the risk of a wider stroke.

Vision often remains poor in the affected eye even with treatment. Care focuses on identifying and managing risk factors to protect the other eye and general health, and on low vision support for any lasting visual impairment.