Which condition is characterized by sudden, painless loss of vision with a pale retina and a cherry-red spot?

Which condition is characterized by sudden, painless loss of vision with a pale retina and a cherry-red spot?

• A. Central retinal vein occlusion
• B. Branch retinal artery occlusion
• C. Central retinal artery occlusion
• D. Retinal detachment

Answer: (C)

Sudden, painless loss of vision in one eye with a pale retina and a cherry-red spot is the classic sign of a central retinal artery occlusion. When the central retinal artery is blocked, the inner retina loses its blood supply rapidly, causing diffuse whitening of the retina (pallor). The fovea stands out as a cherry-red spot because it is thin and has a choroidal blood supply beneath it that remains, so the surrounding pale retina contrasts with the still-red fovea. This pattern specifically points to an arterial occlusion. A central retinal vein occlusion, in contrast, usually shows widespread retinal hemorrhages and venous changes rather than a pale retina with a cherry-red fovea. A branch artery occlusion would affect only a portion of the retina, not the whole retina, and retinal detachment presents with a curtain-like field loss rather than a pale retina with a cherry-red spot.

Sudden, painless loss of vision in one eye with a pale retina and a cherry-red spot is the classic sign of a central retinal artery occlusion. When the central retinal artery is blocked, the inner retina loses its blood supply rapidly, causing diffuse whitening of the retina (pallor). The fovea stands out as a cherry-red spot because it is thin and has a choroidal blood supply beneath it that remains, so the surrounding pale retina contrasts with the still-red fovea. This pattern specifically points to an arterial occlusion. A central retinal vein occlusion, in contrast, usually shows widespread retinal hemorrhages and venous changes rather than a pale retina with a cherry-red fovea. A branch artery occlusion would affect only a portion of the retina, not the whole retina, and retinal detachment presents with a curtain-like field loss rather than a pale retina with a cherry-red spot.