A spontaneous resolution of a branch retinal artery vasospasm following a rhinoplasty: A case report

Central retinal artery occlusion is an extremely rare complication following rhinoplasty. It is a vision-threatening complication with catastrophic sequelae. Vasospasm due to the use of vasoconstrictors in rhinoplasty surgery is one of the mechanisms that may be responsible. In this case report, we describe a 57-year-old woman who developed branch retinal artery occlusion after undergoing rhinoplasty with local injection of vasoconstrictors. The plausible mechanism was vasospasm after ruling out other causes. The clinical course was notable for spontaneous resolution of occlusion; however, a persistent visual field defect without vision loss was observed. Although such complications are exceedingly rare, preventive measures—including aspiration prior to vasoconstrictor injection into the nasal mucosa—are essential. Particular caution is warranted in patients with a known history of vasospasm.