RAO acute management: Which item is not listed as an acute management option?

RAO acute management: Which item is not listed as an acute management option?

• A. Gonioscopy massage
• B. Breathing into a paper bag
• C. Acetazolamide 2 x 250 mg tablets
• D. Pilocarpine 2% drops

Answer: (D)

RAO acute management is about quickly improving retinal perfusion and lowering intraocular pressure to favor blood flow to the retina. Ocular massage (sometimes performed with a gonioscopy approach) aims to help move a potential embolus and restore flow. Breathing into a paper bag is a historical technique to raise CO2 and induce vasodilation, potentially improving ocular perfusion in the moment. Acetazolamide reduces aqueous humor production and lowers intraocular pressure, which can help improve ocular perfusion pressure during an acute arterial occlusion. Pilocarpine 2% drops, while useful in lowering intraocular pressure in other contexts like angle-closure glaucoma, is not part of standard acute RAO management and is not listed as an acute management option. Therefore, pilocarpine drops are the item not listed.

RAO acute management is about quickly improving retinal perfusion and lowering intraocular pressure to favor blood flow to the retina. Ocular massage (sometimes performed with a gonioscopy approach) aims to help move a potential embolus and restore flow. Breathing into a paper bag is a historical technique to raise CO2 and induce vasodilation, potentially improving ocular perfusion in the moment. Acetazolamide reduces aqueous humor production and lowers intraocular pressure, which can help improve ocular perfusion pressure during an acute arterial occlusion. Pilocarpine 2% drops, while useful in lowering intraocular pressure in other contexts like angle-closure glaucoma, is not part of standard acute RAO management and is not listed as an acute management option. Therefore, pilocarpine drops are the item not listed.