BCEN CEN Practice Question

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is an ophthalmic emergency, often termed an 'eye stroke', which can cause irreversible vision loss within minutes to hours if blood flow is not restored. The most critical action is to facilitate an emergent ophthalmologic consultation for diagnosis and intervention, and to prepare for a stroke workup, as CRAO is often caused by an embolus that poses a risk for a concurrent or future cerebral stroke. Treatments like thrombolysis have a very narrow therapeutic window, often less than 4.5 hours from symptom onset, underscoring the need for urgency. Applying a patch, administering cycloplegics, or scheduling a routine follow-up would delay time-sensitive treatment and are not appropriate initial actions for CRAO.