Recognition of carotid stenosis with bilateral simultaneous retinal fluorescein angiography.

In order to study the arm to retina circulation time (ARCT), we simultaneously photographed both fundi in patients with suspected or known carotid artery occlusive disease. Noninvasive carotid artery tests, selective carotid arteriography, or both, were performed on all of the patients. In the 11 patients with arteriographically proven significant carotid stenosis, or with noninvasive carotid tests demonstrating carotid occlusive disease, a triad of fluoroangiographic features (delayed ARCT, disparity of ARCT between eyes, and delayed ciliary circulation at the optic disc) was found. We believe that bilateral simultaneous retinal fluorescein angiography is a sensitive and accurate method for the recognition of patients with carotid artery occlusive disease.