• Stroke
• Intervention

Recent years have seen a dramatic change in the landscape of neurointerventional surgery, in large part due to the significant progress in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This progress has resulted in many thousands of lives saved and the prevention of life-changing morbidity and dependence in many more patients. Although the development of novel endovascular devices and procedural techniques was critical and arguably the ignition for these advances, as we move forward it is the integration of our systems of care and further collaboration with all stakeholders both within and away from the coal face clinical setting that will lead to further success against this disease in the coming years. Integrated and transformative digital health solutions will be critical in achieving this goal.

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a form of acute stroke that, despite >150 years of research, is yet to find an evidence-based intervention or form of therapy confirmed to definitively improve patient outcomes.1 However, incorporating novel but relatively simple digital technology solutions and implementing system of care strategies learned from stroke intervention may facilitate a change in the status quo.

Most patients with CRAO experience significant visual loss with more than than 80% settling with a post-CRAO visual acuity of 20/400 or worse.2 CRAO is also a harbinger of further cerebrovascular events and should be treated as a medical emergency. Why progress in the treatment and outcomes for patients with this form of AIS has not followed …