Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To report the first case of sympathetic ophthalmia associated with pneumatic retinopexy for retinal detachment. Methods: Case report. Results: A 42 year old Caucasian female with no past medical history presented with a macula on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment of the right eye with a superior break identified. Pneumatic retinopexy with cryotherapy and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas injection was performed without complication. The retina was flat on post–operative day 2 and the patient was doing well with 20/25 vision. Four months later, the patient presented with bilateral vitritis, disc edema, and severe retinal vasculitis. Work up included head MRI and extensive vasculitis and uveitis work up along with a rheumatology consult. All tests were negative and the patient was started on prednisone 60mg per day with slow taper and prednisolone acetate 1% ophthalmic drops. The patient improved, and 6 weeks later the eyes were quiet with minimal vitreous cell. 2 weeks after completion of a prednisone taper, the patient experienced worsening floaters and was found to have recurrence of bilateral vitritis and retinal vasculitis. Both retinas also demonstrated multiple hypopigmented circular spots in the mid periphery. Prednisone was restarted at 60mg per day and the patient’s inflammation decreased. Conclusions: Sympathetic ophthalmia may present following pneumatic retinopexy. As far as we know this has not been previously reported.
Keywords: inflammation • retinal detachment • amacrine cells