{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,31]],"date-time":"2025-12-31T20:14:30Z","timestamp":1767212070022,"version":"3.41.2"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,22]],"date-time":"2025-07-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1753142400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Med."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) are two distinct yet serious retinal vascular disorders that often present with acute visual impairment. While both conditions are commonly encountered independently, their simultaneous or sequential occurrence in opposite eyes of the same patient is exceedingly rare and poses unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Here, we present the case of a 65-year-old male patient with a history of systemic hypertension who developed BRAO in the right eye and BRVO in the left eye within a short time interval. Detailed ophthalmologic examination, multimodal imaging including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), and systemic vascular assessments such as carotid Doppler ultrasonography and cardiac evaluation were performed to identify the underlying etiology and guide treatment decisions. The patient was found to have significant carotid atherosclerosis with plaque formation, suggesting systemic vascular pathology as a shared risk factor for both events. Ocular treatment involved posterior sub-Tenon injection of corticosteroids, vasodilator therapy, and laser photocoagulation for ischemic areas. Visual acuity showed marked improvement in both eyes after appropriate interventions and systemic blood pressure control. The concurrent presentation of BRVO and BRAO in different eyes may reflect a systemic vascular disease burden and warrants a high index of suspicion for underlying cardiovascular or cerebrovascular abnormalities. This case underscores the importance of prompt ocular diagnosis, thorough systemic evaluation, and multidisciplinary collaboration to prevent further vascular events and preserve visual function. A detailed literature review is also provided to contextualize the clinical features, diagnostic tools, management approaches, and prognosis of such rare bilateral retinal vascular presentations.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2025.1615871","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,22]],"date-time":"2025-07-22T05:31:23Z","timestamp":1753162283000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Unilateral branch retinal vein occlusion and contralateral branch retinal artery occlusion: a case report and comprehensive literature review"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Chao","family":"Zhang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Han","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Zhiyu","family":"Xu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Qiwei","family":"Lu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ying","family":"Zhu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jun","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"010427","DOI":"10.7189\/jogh.09.010427","article-title":"Global epidemiology of retinal vein occlusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence, incidence, and risk factors","volume":"9","author":"Song","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Glob Health"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1520","DOI":"10.1097\/IAE.0b013e3181e79872","article-title":"Young patients with branch retinal vein occlusion: a review of 60 cases","volume":"30","author":"Lam","year":"2010","journal-title":"Retina"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1155\/2014\/724780","article-title":"Risk factors for central and branch retinal vein occlusion: a meta-analysis of published clinical data","volume":"2014","author":"Kolar","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"338","DOI":"10.1177\/17474930241306692","article-title":"Early reperfusion in patients with acute retinal artery occlusion: a multicenter prospective study","volume":"20","author":"Abdelmassih","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int J Stroke"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e946514","DOI":"10.12659\/AJCR.946514","article-title":"Vision-threatening complications of Juxtapapillary retinal capillary hemangioma: a case of retinal artery occlusion","volume":"26","author":"Han","year":"2025","journal-title":"Am J Case Rep"},{"key":"ref6","first-page":"191","article-title":"Simulataneous occlusion of the central retinal artery and vein","volume":"77","author":"Richards","year":"1979","journal-title":"Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00918861","article-title":"Combined central retinal artery-central vein obstruction","volume":"17","author":"Brown","year":"1993","journal-title":"Int Ophthalmol"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"204","DOI":"10.4103\/0301-4738.27077","article-title":"Combined central retinal artery and vein occlusion secondary to systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma","volume":"54","author":"Shukla","year":"2006","journal-title":"Indian J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"901","DOI":"10.1097\/IAE.0b013e3182870c15","article-title":"Branch retinal vein occlusion: epidemiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, clinical features, diagnosis, and complications. An update of the literature","volume":"33","author":"Jaulim","year":"2013","journal-title":"Retina"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1928","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ophtha.2009.03.006","article-title":"Retinal artery occlusion: associated systemic and ophthalmic abnormalities","volume":"116","author":"Hayreh","year":"2009","journal-title":"Ophthalmology"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"695","DOI":"10.3390\/jpm14070695","article-title":"Ocular manifestations and complications of patent foramen Ovale: a narrative review","volume":"14","author":"Lixi","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Pers Med"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1620\/tjem.203.141","article-title":"Branch retinal artery occlusion: a complication of iron-deficiency anemia in a young adult with a rectal carcinoid","volume":"203","author":"Imai","year":"2004","journal-title":"Tohoku J Exp Med"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1186\/2047-783X-18-27","article-title":"Comorbidities in combined retinal artery and vein occlusions","volume":"18","author":"Schmidt","year":"2013","journal-title":"Eur J Med Res"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100041","DOI":"10.1016\/j.xops.2021.100041","article-title":"Cataract surgery is not associated with decreased risk of retinal vein occlusion","volume":"1","author":"Bagdasarova","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ophthalmol Sci"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1111\/cxo.12525","article-title":"Branch retinal vein occlusion following cataract surgery","volume":"101","author":"Polizzi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Clin Exp Optom"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1745","DOI":"10.3390\/tomography9050139","article-title":"Simultaneous branch retinal artery and central retinal vein occlusion improved with no ocular therapy: a case report","volume":"9","author":"Vitiello","year":"2023","journal-title":"Tomography"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5006","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm13175006","article-title":"Intravitreal dexamethasone implant switch after anti-VEGF treatment in patients affected by retinal vein occlusion: a review of the literature","volume":"13","author":"Vitiello","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2652","DOI":"10.4103\/0366-6999.166043","article-title":"Neuroprotective effect of compound anisodine in a mouse model with chronic ocular hypertension","volume":"128","author":"Liu","year":"2015","journal-title":"Chin Med J"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2617","DOI":"10.3892\/etm.2016.3681","article-title":"Observation on therapeutic efficacy of rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis combined with compound anisodine injection on central retinal artery occlusion","volume":"12","author":"Wu","year":"2016","journal-title":"Exp Ther Med"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"NP379","DOI":"10.1177\/01455613211016731","article-title":"Central retinal artery occlusion due to subperiosteal orbital abscess caused by acute sinusitis in a child: a case report","volume":"102","author":"Chen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Ear Nose Throat J"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"300060520952279","DOI":"10.1177\/0300060520952279","article-title":"Transient visual acuity loss after spine surgery in the prone position: a case report and literature review","volume":"48","author":"Xiong","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Int Med Res"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Medicine"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2025.1615871\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,22]],"date-time":"2025-07-22T05:31:24Z","timestamp":1753162284000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2025.1615871\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,22]]},"references-count":21,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fmed.2025.1615871"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmed.2025.1615871","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-858X"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2296-858X"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,22]]},"article-number":"1615871"}}