Retinal arteriolar occlusion

What it means

Blockage of retinal arteriole, generally associated with interruption of blood flow and oxygen delivery to affected regions of the retina. This can affect the inner or mid-retinal structures.

This can be due to embolic, inflammatory, or hyperviscosity disorders. This can be associated with Cotton wool spots. It is often referred to as Branch retinal artery occlusion.

Rare diseases that can present with this1

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Blocked retinal arteriole