Which of the following is a less common etiology of retinal artery occlusion?

Retinal artery occlusion is primarily associated with various common risk factors and underlying conditions, such as embolic phenomena from systemic vascular diseases or local disorders. While age-related macular degeneration, retinal detachment, and optic neuritis have established links to retinal vessel problems, small artery disease appears less frequently as a specific cause for retinal artery occlusion.

Small artery disease typically involves the smaller vessels in the brain and can lead to conditions such as lacunar infarcts or vascular dementia. Its link to retinal artery occlusion is not as direct or significant compared to the other options, making it a less common etiology. In summary, while all the conditions presented can have implications for retinal health, small artery disease is recognized as a less frequently encountered cause of retinal artery occlusion in clinical practice.