Combined simultaneous bilateral central retinal artery and vein occlusion in a patient with lymphoma of the pancreatic head

Abstract

Combined occlusion of retinal artery and vein is a rare event, and its occurrence in both eyes concurrently in a young patient is an even rare phenomenon. We report such a case in which a 45-year-old female presented with sudden loss of vision, 2 weeks following the third cycle of chemotherapy. Fundus findings and investigations pointed toward combined bilateral simultaneous retinal artery and vein occlusion. Vision did not improve despite treatment. To our knowledge, this extreme presentation of total occlusive disease and its association with lymphoma of the pancreas is the first to be reported in the literature. This case highlights the prothrombotic state induced by pancreatic malignancy and warrants periodic monitoring in such patients.