Decompression retinopathy after trabeculectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To present a case of a unilateral diffuse retinal hemorrhage in a 15-year-old girl, who underwent bilateral trabeculectomy for steroid induced glaucoma.


METHODS
Despite the maximally tolerable medical treatment, IOP in the right eye remained above 50 mmHg for four months, and was simultaneously elevated in the left eye. So we performed bilateral trabeculectomy.


RESULTS
On the first postoperative day, diffuse retinal hemorrhages were observed in the right eye; however, no retinal hemorrhage was found in the left eye. The hemorrhages resolved completely without consequences two months later.


CONCLUSIONS
In the case of high IOP for a long period, sudden lowering of IOP may acutely increase the blood flow and consequently rupture multiple retinal capillaries because of altered autoregulatory function. Special care is therefore needed to prevent an abrupt fall in IOP before, during, and after surgery, especially when IOP has been highly elevated for an extended period.
Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan, Korea. jea-sy@hanmail.net
Seung-Youn
SY
Jea
Jae-Ho
JH
Jung
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy
D013256:Steroids