Cardiology
Every heartbeat tells a story, and cardiologists listen carefully to diagnose, treat, and protect the rhythm of life.
A 42-year-old software engineer woke up blind in one eye. His ophthalmologist diagnosed a central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and sent him to me urgently.
He was otherwise healthy, but I insisted on a cardiac workup. Holter monitoring revealed paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. It was an embolus that had traveled from his heart to his eye.
We started anticoagulation immediately. A few weeks later, he developed a minor stroke—but was protected due to early anticoagulation. His life changed because his eye told us what his heart was hiding.
The Lesson Learned
The eye can be the first site of a cardioembolic event. CRAO in younger patients must prompt a cardio workup. Eyes save lives.
