title: Sympathetic ophthalmitis following vitreoretinal surgery: Does antecedent trauma make a difference?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sympathetic ophthalmitis (SO) has been reported following vitrectomy; however, there is a lack of data on the role of antecedent penetrating ocular trauma impacting the disease manifestation in eyes developing SO following vitrectomy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report differences in the presentation and outcomes of SO in eyes with or without a history of antecedent penetrating trauma; SO being diagnosed after vitreoretinal (VR) surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparative case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen consecutive patients presenting with SO following VR surgery, diagnosed between 1995 and 2011 were included. Eyes with and without prior penetrating injury were included in Group I (n = 7) and Group II (n = 10), respectively. All Group I patients had received systemic steroids prior to presentation. Demographic and clinical parameters were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences were observed between Group I and Group II mainly with regards to time interval between VR surgery and diagnosis of SO (1.5 months vs. 8 months, P = 0.10), presence of neurosensory detachments (100% vs. 30%, P = 0.01), and the inciting eye vision at presentation (nil light perception in 28.5% vs. 80%, P = 0.049). Other differences observed though not statistically significant were optic disc and retinal vessel involvement (42% vs. 70%, P = 0.28), Dalen-Fuchs nodules (localized vs. diffuse) and leaks on fundus fluorescein angiography (pin-head vs. pin-point leak).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SO in patients with antecedent penetrating ocular trauma present early with the central serous chorioretinopathy-like picture. Prior use of systemic steroids might have a bearing on the differences in presentation and the visual acuities between the two groups.
authors.affiliation: Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Ekta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rishi
authors.forename: Pukhraj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rishi
authors.forename: Bindu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Appukuttan
authors.forename: Jaydeep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walinjkar
authors.forename: Jyotirmay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: Tarun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009879:Ophthalmia, Sympathetic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity; D057586:Vitreoretinal Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult