Pathogenesis: microemboli composed of fibrin, platelets and/or white blood cells
Conditions associated with Purtscher's retinopathy:
(1) severe trauma to head
(2) severe trauma to the chest
(3) extensive trauma to one or more long bones
(4) acute pancreatitis
(5) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
(6) fat embolism syndrome
(7) thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) or DIC
(8) chronic renal failure (CRF)
(9) amniotic fluid embolism
(10) scleroderma
(11) dermatomyositis
Clinical findings:
(1) sudden loss of central vision in one or both eyes
(2) painless
(3) little recovery of visual acuity over time
Ophthalmologic findings:
(1) bilateral, asymmetrical distribution of lesions around the optic nerve head
(2) multiple white cotton wool spots of varying sizes
(3) intra-retinal hemorrhages
(4) macular pigmentary changes (late)
(5) optic atrophy (late)
