Central retinal artery occlusion in a young adult with sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive disease. Clinical presentation depends on mutation of hemoglobin protein. The complication due to SCD is variable, as it affects vascular bed of different organs due to accumulation of sickle hemoglobin in arteries. This vaso-occlusive event may affect vascular bed in the eye, causes sickle cell retinopathy. A 22-year-old female, known case of sickle cell anemia, presented with a sudden loss of vision in her left eye 2 days back with generalized myalgia for 5 days. The ocular examination revealed acute central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). She underwent laboratory and radiological investigations. The blood investigations revealed normal biochemical parameters and normal coagulation profile. On ocular examination, the fundus fluorescein angiography revealed CRAO along with central serous retinopathy. This report advocates that the disease may result in life affecting complication like vision loss due to CRAO. This case indicates that only prompt management toward such cases will be beneficial for such patients. We need a proper approach for the management of SCD patients.