Retinopathy associated with acute pancreatitis.

Two patients (a 28-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man) with acute pancreatitis developed severe visual loss. The acute stage of retinopathy consisted of retinal edema, cotton-wool patches, and retinal hemorrhages, predominantly in the posterior pole of both eyes. During the five-year follow-up period, visual acuity improved and sequential fluorescein angiography of both patients demonstrated reperfusion of previously occluded retinal vessels. After resolution of the cotton-wool patches, the previously edematous areas were replaced by foci of retinal thinning which created irregularities in the internal limiting membrane light reflex. Visual fields demonstrated scotomas corresponding to the areas of the previous cotton-wool patches.