Bilateral central retina vein occlusion associated with obesity-hypoventilation syndrome (pickwickian syndrome).
OBJECTIVE
To describe bilateral central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) as a clinical manifestation of obesity-hypoventilation syndrome (pickwickian syndrome).


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
A 37-year-old Hispanic man with morbid obesity and obstructive sleep apnea who suddenly developed bilateral loss of vision.


RESULTS
Laboratory studies disclosed the following: hematocrit, 81%; body mass index, 55 kg/m; PaCO2, 52 mmHg; and blood oxygen saturation (SaO2), 54%. Polysomnography demonstrated 45 obstructive apneas and 133 obstructive hypopneas, with abnormal movements of the inferior limbs during sleep.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypoxia and hypercapnia produce severe erythrocytosis that causes a change in blood viscosity. This may facilitate thrombus formation at the lamina cribrosa of both eyes manifested as bilateral CRVO.
From the *Glaucoma Department and the †Retina Department, Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera en México, México City, México.
Mauricio
M
Turati
Raul
R
Velez-Montoya
Carmen Cecilia
CC
Gonzalez-Mijares
Adai
A
Perez-Montesinos
Hugo
H
Quiroz-Mercado
Gerardo
G
Garcia-Aguirre