Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is considered to be an acute stroke of 
the eye that results in profound visual loss. Spontaneous recovery rates are 
poor. Most CRAOs are caused by thromboembolism in the central retinal artery. 
Current standard therapies for CRAO that aim to restore perfusion to the retina 
and optic nerve head have not been shown to alter the natural course of the 
disease. Thrombolytic therapy for acute management of CRAO has shown promise in 
nonrandomized studies with regard to improving visual outcomes. A randomized 
controlled trial will be required to confirm the efficacy of thrombolytic 
therapy before it can be recommended for use in CRAO in daily clinical practice.