Physicians blind spot: Central retinal artery occlusion complicating streptococcus pyogenes infective endocarditis

Abstract

Streptococcus pyogenes is a rare cause of infective endocarditis. The clinical features can be indistinct, making the diagnosis difficult. Embolic complications can be seen in nearly 50% of the patients and can sometimes be the first indication of the presence of infective endocarditis. We describe a case of streptococcus pyogenes endocarditis in an elderly patient with no previous history of valvular heart disease. It was only after the patient developed acute visual loss due to retinal artery occlusion that the diagnosis became apparent.