A retrospective study covering 151 patients was conducted in order to determine the incidence of risk factors (arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disorders) in cases of retinal artery occlusion. Occlusion of the central artery was found in 43% of the patients, occlusion of one or several branch arteries in 53%, and cilioretinal artery occlusion in 4%. A monofactorial study of risk factors produced a statistically significant value only for arterial hypertension (P = 0.01). Smoking and diabetic metabolism were not significant, and the correlation with hyperlipidemia was weak (P = 0.08). Forty-six patients were examined by continuouswave Doppler sonography: stenosis of the internal carotid artery was found in 50% of these cases. Pathologic Doppler findings were associated with an embolus in 14 cases (57%) and central artery occlusion in 9 (40%). Since retinal artery occlusion is frequently associated with carotid artery disease, systematic Doppler examination of the carotid vessels and the cardiovascular system should be performed in all patients with retinal artery occlusion.