Chronic ocular hypoxia associated with carotid insufficiency, presenting with hyphaema

Abstract

The case is presented of a previously fit 69-year-old man who presented with a hyphaema secondary to iris neovascularization, which was related to carotid insufficiency. He was treated, with improvement of symptoms, by argon laser panretinal photocoagulation. The relative merits of panretinal photocoagulation and of carotid surgery in this situation are discussed.

Key Words:

• carotid artery stenosis
• rubeosis iridis
• hyphaema