Latent proliferative sickle cell retinopathy in sickle cell trait.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a patient with sickle cell trait who developed latent proliferative sickle cell retinopathy after mild blunt trauma.


METHODS
Case Report. A 20-year-old man with unilateral Stage 3 sickle retinopathy associated with an ischaemic ridge presenting three years after the initial mild blunt ocular trauma.


RESULTS
Fundus examination of the left eye showed an ischaemic ridge delineating avascular from vascular retina. Fluorescein angiography of the left eye showed an avascular peripheral retina and multiple sea fan neovascularization. Blood studies showed him to be Hb AS.


CONCLUSIONS
In our patient the proliferative changes were the result of his initial mild trauma associated with an increase in the intraocular pressure. The latent development of the sea-fan neovascularization associated with an ischaemic ridge is unusual. Advice about potential complications to patients with Hb AS after ocular trauma is advocated.
Mehta
J S
JS
Birmingham & Midland Eye Centre, UK. jodmehta@yahoo.com
Whittaker
K W
KW
Tsaloumas
M D
MD
D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012805:Sickle Cell Trait / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications