ABSTRACT

Purpose: To report a case of sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) after vitreoretinal surgery.

Case report.

A 44 year-old man was seen with a history of scleral buckling, pars plana vitrectomy and intraocular silicon-oil injection in the right eye for retinal detachment in another hospital. Than, his visual acuity was decreased and epiphora and photophobia were noted in the left eye in 2007. In the ophthalmic examination bilateral mutton fat keratic precipitates, vitreous cells, right retinal detachment and vascular leakage in floresein angiography were seen. Sympathetic ophthalmia was considered and the patient was treated with topical and systemic steroids. In the follow-up, visual acuity was significantly increased in the left eye and granulomatous uveitis was regressed bilaterally.

Sympathetic ophthalmia can be seen following pars plana vitrectomy in patients without history of trauma. Indeed, it may be seen after vitrectomy for retinal detachment. Diverse clinical presentations are possible, and patients complaining photophobia, epiphora in the other eye following vitrectomy surgery should alert the surgeon to the development of sympathetic ophthalmia.