Carotid-ophthalmic aneurysms, though comprising only 4% of cerebral aneurysms, can lead to progressive visual deterioration by compressing the visual pathways, and early intervention is essential to prevent permanent vision loss. When suspected, urgent angiographic imaging should be requested. This report highlights an uncommon but treatable cause of progressive visual impairment due to optic nerve compression by a carotid aneurysm.
Background and objectives: Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and early diagnosis is essential to preserve the visual health of the population. The objective of this study is to estimate the diagnostic value of macular superficial vascular density in the detection of early changes in primary open-angle glaucoma.
Materials and methods: Observational, analytical, and cross-sectional study in 222 eyes (215 participants) and three study groups: negative control (111 healthy subjects), mild glaucoma (55 patients), and positive control (56 patients). CIRRUS™ 5000 technology (version 11.0) was used. To make both eyes equivalent, transposition was performed on the vertical axis in the left eye. The apparent macular vascular density (6 × 6 mm) was obtained by image processing in sectors of interest using the Python algorithm. Areas under the curve with negative control groups and mild glaucoma were calculated.
Results: Both groups were similar in age, sex, systemic diseases and ocular biometry. Vascular densities showed low diagnostic capacity (AUC = 0.56-0.65). The apparent macular vascular densities in outer rings 240-300° and 205-245° (respectively AUC = 0.90 and 0.89) showed better diagnostic capacity (p < 0.05) than neuroretinal ring area, minimum ganglion cell thickness (AUC = 0.82; both) and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (AUC = 0.79).
Conclusions: Superficial macular vascular density in areas of anatomical interest for glaucomatous damage is the best parameter of optical coherence tomography for the detection of early changes in primary open-angle glaucoma.
This case highlights the significance of ocular manifestations in systemic diseases and their diagnostic implications. The patient is a male of African descent who presented to the emergency department with a sudden, painless decrease in visual acuity in the right eye (OD). He also reported a possible history of congenital anemia that had never been previously diagnosed or managed. Fundoscopic examination revealed a grade ++ vitreous hemorrhage in the right eye, along with areas of peripheral neovascularization located between zones M11-M8 and M2-M3, associated with both temporal and nasal retinal neovascularization, as well as temporal peripheral traction in the left eye (OS). These findings were suggestive of "sea fan" retinopathy, likely related to sickle cell anemia. This diagnostic impression was confirmed by the Internal Medicine and Hematology departments, who based on paraclinical findings initiated hydroxyurea treatment.

