The incidence of central retinal artery occlusion in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of central retinal artery occlusion in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

DESIGN: Retrospective chart review.

METHODS: Medical records of all patients living in Olmsted County, Minnesota between 1976 and 2005 diagnosed with central retinal artery occlusion were identified using the Rochester Epidemiology Project medical records linkage system.

RESULTS: Forty-three cases were identified for an unadjusted annual incidence in the female population of 1.02 per 100,000 and 1.67 per 100,000 in the male population, with a combined incidence of 1.33. Incidence rates were also age- and/or sex-adjusted to the 2000 census figures for the US white population using direct standardization. Age-adjusted annual incidence per 100,000 for the female population was 1.15 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60-1.71), for the male population was 2.78 (95% CI, 1.69-3.86), and combined was 1.87 (95% CI, 1.31-2.43). When adjusted for age and sex, the incidence was 1.90 per 100,000 (95% CI, 1.33-2.47).

CONCLUSION: Central retinal artery occlusion is a rare event. The incidence is 1.3 per 100,000 in Olmsted County, Minnesota, or 1.90 per 100,000 when age- and sex-adjusted for the United States white population.