A branch retinal artery occlusion (one of the branches of the central retinal artery) provokes focal retinal ischemia.

Ischemia of the inner layers leads to intracellular edema that has the ophthalmoscopic appearance of grayish whitening of the retina along the length of the affected artery.

The site of the obstruction is usually the bifurcation of temporal retinal arteries.

Retinal whitening resolves over several weeks and visual acuity can improve.

Differential Diagnosis:

• Branch retinal vein occlusion
• Commotio retinae
• CRAO with cilioretinal artery sparing