ObjectiveTo observe the effect of interventional thrombolytic therapy for central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) with ipsilateral internal carotid artery occlusion via supratrochlear artery retrogradely or external carotid artery anterogradely.MethodsNine CRAO patients (9 eyes) were enrolled in this study, including 5 males and 4 females. The mean age was (45.2±18.1) years. The mean onset duration was 24 hours. There were 4 eyes with vision of no light perception, 3 eyes with light perception and 2 eyes with hand movement. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) examination showed that the retinal artery was filled with delayed fluorescence. The peak of fluorescence was seen in the anterior part of the artery, and some of the eyes showed retrograde filling. The arm-retinal circulation time (A-Rct) was ≥35 s in 4 eyes, ≥35 s - ＜25 s in 5 eyes. The filling time of retinal artery and its branches (FT) was ≥15 s in 2 eyes, ≥12 s - ＜15 s in 3 eyes, ≥9 s - ＜12 s in 4 eyes. All the patients received the treatment of interventional thrombolytic therapy via supratrochlear artery retrogradely (8 eyes) or external carotid artery anterogradely (1 eye) according to the indications and contraindications of thrombolytic therapy in acute cerebral infraction patients. Urokinase (0.4 million U in total) was intermittently injected into the arteries. After artery thrombolysis, the changes of digital subtraction angiography (DSA), filling time of retinal artery and its branches on FFA within 24 hours and the visual acuity were observed. According to the A-Rct and FT on FFA, the therapeutic effects on retinal circulation were defined as effective markedly (A-Rct≤15 s, FT≤2 s) , effective (A-Rct was improved but in the range of 16 - 20 s, FT was in 3 - 8 s) and no effect (A-Rct was improved but ≥21 s, FT≥9 s). The related local or systemic complications were recorded.ResultsAfter the injection of urokinase into the catheter, the ophthalmic artery and its branches were increased in 6 eyes (66.7%), and the development of the eye ring was significantly more than that of the eyes before thrombolysis. The circulation time in ophthalmic artery was speeded up for 2 s before thrombolysis in 3 eyes, 3 s in 3 eyes, and 4 s in 2 eyes. Within 24 hours after thrombolysis treatment, the A-Rct was significantly decreased than that of before interventional therapy. The retinal circulation was effective markedly in 4 eyes (44.4%), effective in 4 eyes (44.4%) and no effect in 1 eyes (11.2%) . The vision was improved 3 lines in 4 eyes (44.4%), 2 lines in 3 eyes (33.3%), 1 line in 1 eye (11.2%) and no change in 1 eye (11.2%). There were no abnormal eye movements, vitreous hemorrhage and incision hematoma, intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral embolism, and other local and systemic adverse effectives during the follow-up.ConclusionsThe interventional thrombolytic therapy via supratrochlear artery retrogradely or external carotid artery anterogradely for CRAO with the ipsilateral internal carotid artery occlusion can improve retinal circulation and vision. There are no related local or systemic complications.