Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is an ophthalmological emergency 
situation. Known risk factors are arterial hypertension, cardial arrhythmia, 
arteriosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes. Elderly patients should be 
examined for an arteritic genesis. Young patients (< 45 years) without typical 
risk factors may suffer from thrombophilia. There is no uniform recommendation 
on how to treat non-arteritic CRAO. Many different interventions have been 
suggested in the literature, i. e., massaging the eye, systemic or local 
reduction of intraocular pressure, anticoagulation, either systemically 
administered venous thrombolysis or supraselective intra-arterial thrombolysis. 
In this review we present the causes of CRAO and diagnostic means to detect 
causes; we also critically discuss previously described therapeutic options. It 
is our aim to provide a guide through the necessary interdisciplinary 
diagnostics in co-operation with internal medicine and neurology and to 
recommend a multimodal therapy in patients with non-arteritic CRAO.