Sympathetic ophthalmia in fellow eye after vitrectomy for massive subretinal hemorrhage secondary to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

Abstract

We experienced a case of sympathetic ophthalmia in a fellow eye after vitrectomy for subretinal hemorrhage related to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. A 60-year-old male consulted us for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with subretinal hemorrhage in his left eye. The recurrence of massive subretinal hemorrhage refractory to repeated pars plana vitrectomies leads to phthisis bulbi. Two months later, multiple serous retinal detachments were observed in his right eye. Positive human leukocyte antigen-DR4 and the uveitis were helpful in distinguishing between sympathetic ophthalmia and age-related macular degeneration. High-dose pulse intravenous steroid contributed to recovery of visual acuity after resolution of serous retinal detachment.

Sympathetic ophthalmia: Report of a case series and comprehensive review of the literature

“…We described 16 new SO patients at our hospital then conducted a literature search, retrieving a total of 87 previous case reports of SO. 9,10,16–67 These 103 patients had an average age at presentation of 44.9 years (ranging from 2.5–85 years) and consisted of 69 males (66.9%) and 34 females (33.1%). There were 51 patients (49.5%) who underwent ocular therapies and 52 patients (50.5%) with a previous history of trauma.…”