Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in an Isolated Cilioretinal Artery Occlusion: A Case Report

The arterial blood supply to the eye is provided by the ophthalmic artery, one of the branches of the internal carotid artery. The branches of the ophthalmic artery which meet the metabolic needs of the globe are central retinal artery, short and long posterior ciliaries, anterior ciliaries. The central retinal artery enters the globe through the optic nerve and supplies blood to the inner layers of the retina. The long posterior ciliary arteries supply blood to the cilioretinal artery, choroid and the outer layers of the retina. The anterior ciliary arteries and posterior ciliary arteries anastamose to form the major arterial circle of the iris [1]. The human retina has two separate circulations; the retinal circulation supplies the inner layers of the retina and the choroidal circulation supplies the outer layers [2]. The retinal artery occlusions mostly affect inner retinal layers because choroidal circulation supplies the majority of the oxygen to the outer layers of the retina, and only the inner layers of the retina are nourished by the retinal circulation.