Bilateral hemorrhagic proptosis due to an uncommon cause in ocular emergency

Abstract

A 19-year-old male patient presented to the ocular emergency services with sudden onset of proptosis, pain, and bloody discharge. Further evaluation revealed bilateral visual acuity of finger counting close to face vision with an accurate projection of rays. Computed tomography scan of the head and orbit revealed diffuse orbital hemorrhage (mainly along the ocular coats) in the absence of any subperiosteal or intracranial hemorrhage. A complete hematological workup was done and it revealed decreased factor IX levels (9% of normal) consistent with hemophilia B (Christmas disease). The patient was managed medically with factor IX supplementation. At the end of 6 weeks, patient's visual acuity improved to 20/20 in both the eyes.

Keywords

• Hemophilia B
• hemorrhagic proptosis
• ophthalmic emergency