A rare case of unilateral traumatic peripheral retinal arteriolar occlusions and neovascularization of optic disc

Abstract

A young adult Asian Indian male presented to us with a 1-month history of trauma to the right eye (RE) with a tennis ball. He had intraocular pressure (IOP) of 32 mmHg while on three topical antiglaucoma drugs and oral acetazolamide, with uncontrolled inflammation in the anterior chamber (AC) and arteriolar occlusions in the periphery. His best corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in RE. Fluorescein angiography of the RE showed the presence of neovascularization of disc (NVD). Magnetic resonance angiography of the head and neck, and blood investigations ruled out the embolic origin of arteriolar occlusion and systemic causes for inflammation. Intra ocular pressure (IOP) and inflammation were controlled with appropriate treatment. NVD resolved with photocoagulation treatment (PRP) for capillary non-perfusion areas in 4 weeks. This case documents the occurrence of arteriolar occlusion, with neovascularization after arteriolar occlusion post blunt trauma, and successful adjunct use of topical cyclosporine in the management of AC inflammation and high IOP.

Keywords

• blunt trauma
• cyclosporine in inflammation
• neovascularization in trauma
• traumatic arteriolar occlusion