ATHEROMATOUS AND ATHEROMA-LIKE LESIONS OF THE CENTRAL RETINAL ARTERY - HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CORRELATIONS

Arteriosclerosis is very rare in the distal central retinal artery (CR A) of aged eyes devoid of significant ocular pathology. Nevertheless, atheromatous and atheroma-like lesions are occasionally observed in ro utine ophthalmic pathology. We investigated the histopathologic correl ations of the eyes and vessels involved, Twenty-eight globes presentin g atheromatous and atheroma-like lesions (defined as accumulations of foamy macrophages in the tunica intima) in the CRA or its first-order branches were obtained from our files and studied under light microsco py. Vessels were examined for 7 histological characteristics related t o atherogenesis, and the histopathological features of the involved ey es were analysed. Deposits of foamy macrophages were observed most fre quently in the postlaminar CRA, followed by the intraneural and the in tralaminar segment. There was a conspicuous association with glaucoma (78.6%), especially neovascular glaucoma (71.4%). The most frequently associated ocular pathologic features were optic atrophy (96.4%), atro phy of the inner retina (85.7%), cataract (64.3%), and inflammatory co nditions (50%). Atheromatous and atheroma-like lesions of the CRA appe ar to be more common than generally reported. It is unlikely that they represent an age-related degenerative type of arteriosclerosis. They are more likely to be primarily or secondarily related to the severe o cular disease conditions with which they are found.