Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO) is a sudden blockage in the main artery supplying the retina. Known as an eye stroke, it causes painless vision loss. Thai emergency departments treat this urgently because retinal tissue dies within 90 minutes without oxygen. Immediate care is vital to prevent permanent blindness.
- Emergency protocols: Thai hospitals use intravenous thrombolysis to dissolve clots within 4.5 hours.
- Oxygen therapy: Major centres use Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) to keep retinal cells alive.
- Stroke prevention: Doctors perform urgent carotid imaging to prevent secondary heart attacks or strokes.
- Screening: Clinics like Laser Vision at Bangkok Eye Hospital use AI and robotic diagnostics.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Thai eye hospitals integrate vascular specialists directly into their emergency retina protocols. While a clinic like Laser Vision has performed over 100,000 surgeries, the focus for CRAO is the Smart Hospital model. This setup uses robotic diagnostics to speed up assessment. Quick triage is the difference between counting fingers and regaining full sight.
Patient Consensus: Patients describe CRAO as a retinal stroke that requires immediate ER assessment rather than waiting for an eye clinic. They emphasise that the retina dies fast, making urgent hospital visits in Thailand essential for vision recovery.