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LIPEMIA RETINALIS

Nayara Pinto and Romano Vasconcelos

Originally posted on @retina.rocks 10/11/2022

This 28YO female presented with bilateral symmetric creamy colored blood vessels (only left eye shown). Triglycerides were markedly elevated above 1000.

The vascular appearance normalized 4 months following systemic treatment with a relatively normal triglyceride level of 189.

Learning Points:
Lipemia retinalis is a rare retinal manifestation of severe hypertriglyceridemia, characterized by creamy white discoloration of the retinal vasculature. In severe cases, the fundus can turn salmon-colored.

Patients are asymptomatic, and vision is normal. However, they are at obvious cardiovascular risk without systemic treatment.