Central retinal artery occlusion by fat embolism after facial autologous fat injection

ABSTRACT

The global cosmetic industry growth and the desire for aesthetics and rejuvenation have increased the aesthetic procedures. Autologous fat is the most common and most serious type of filling related to iatrogenic blindness. Iatrogenic occlusion of the ophthalmic artery is a rare but devastating complication of facial filler injections. Although several treatments have been reported and proposed, to date there is no proven efficacy. In identifying central retinal artery occlusion, timing is crucial to the patient’s visual prognosis. The results, in general, are unsatisfactory and there is little or no favorable evidence. This paper aimed to report the case of a patient who presented central retinal artery occlusion after a cosmetic procedure with autologous fat in the nasolabial region.

Keywords:
Retinal artery occlusion; Blindness; Visual acuity; Cosmetic techniques; Subcutaneous fat