Central Retinal Artery Occlusion in a Child With T-Cell Lymphoma

Central retinal artery occlusion occurs infrequently in children. We treated a child with central retinal artery occlusion before a systemic disease was discovered. Vision improved after paracentesis and anticoagulation. Systemic T-cell lymphoma was subsequently diagnosed. In contrast to older patients in whom atheromatous disease is a common etiologic factor, children frequently have more obscure systemic or ocular associations. Lymphoma should be considered as a possible systemic association in cases of central retinal artery occlusion, especially in younger patients who are less at risk for the more common causes.