“Branch retinal artery occlusion in a sixteen-year-old girl with patent foramen ovale”

Introduction: The etiology and risk factors of the extremely rare retinal artery occlusion (RAO) in pediatric patients are poorly understood. We report a case of transient branch RAO (BRAO) patent foramen ovale (PFO)-related left circulation thromboembolism. Observations: A healthy sixteen-year-old female presented with painless decreased vision in her left eye. Examinations revealed ischemic edema of a localized sector of the macular area and delayed artero-venous blood transit. Following neurological, cardiological and genetic examinations, a diagnosis and subsequent treatment for PFO were undertaken. Conclusions and importance: This rare case shows that a PFO should be always considered as a potential etiology of RAO in young patients, thus highlighting the importance of investigating all potential sources of embolisms to prevent further ischemic events.