A 23-year-old black women with acute blurred vision of the right eye was referred for ophthalmological examination. Fundus examination and fluorescence angiography showed a non-ischaemic central retinal vein occlusion (papillophlebitis). The diagnosis of sarcoidosis, suggested by the presence of bilateral hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, was confirmed by transbronchial biopsy of the lymphadenopathy demonstrating noncaseating granulomas. The eye problems were successfully treated with systemic corticosteroids. Central retinal vein occlusion is a rare complication of sarcoidosis.