Anterior Segment Ischemia in Viper Bite.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical and histopathological features of post viper bite anterior segment ischemia.


METHODS
Seven patients with ocular complications following viper bite referred to uveitis clinic had slit-lamp examination, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, and fundus evaluation. Iris and fundus fluorescein angiography was performed on 2 patients. Histopathological examination was performed on iris tissues collected during cataract surgery.


RESULTS
Strikingly similar clinical findings were noted, including circumpupillary superficial iris atrophy, mid dilated fixed pupil, marked pigment dispersion, low IOP, and cataract. All clinical signs were noted only in the anterior segment; the posterior segment was normal. Histopathology of iris revealed atrophy of iris stroma, necrotic iris pigment epithelium, and infiltration of T lymphocytes and fibrous membrane. Poor visual outcome was noted in patients with low IOP.


CONCLUSIONS
Viper bite victims presented with clinical and histopathological signs of anterior segment ischemia and secondary inflammatory signs mimicking uveitis.
a Uveitis Service, Aravind Eye Hospital & PG. Institute of Ophthalmology , Madurai , India and.
Rathinam R
RR
Sivakumar
b Department of Ophthalmology , USC Eye Institute, University of Southern California , Los Angeles , California , USA.
Narsing A
NA
Rao
D000328:Adult; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000098:blood supply*; D001284:Atrophy; D002386:Cataract / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007498:Iris / Q000473:pathology*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000150:complications*; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*
Anterior segment ischemia; cholinergic vasoconstriction; iris atrophy; uveitis masquerade; viper bite