Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a rare but vision-threatening vascular disorder that is commonly caused by embolic events originating from the heart or carotid arteries. Patients with RAO are known to have an increased risk of subsequent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, including ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction. However, long-term outcomes and optimal medical treatment strategies for these patients remain insufficiently characterized.
The purpose of this nationwide population-based study is to investigate the incidence of long-term cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes in patients diagnosed with retinal artery occlusion using the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database. In addition, the study aims to evaluate the impact of various medical therapies, including antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, and statins, on long-term clinical outcomes.