Purtscher-like retinopathy: A rare complication of peribulbar anesthesia

Abstract

Purtscher and Purtscher-like retinopathy is a distinctive retinal syndrome characterized by ischemic retinal whitening in a peripapillary pattern. We report a case of Purtscher-like retinopathy in a healthy 64-year-old man after a routine peribulbar anesthetic injection for cataract surgery. Although peribulbar anesthesia is considered to be a safer alternative to retrobulbar anesthesia, it has been associated with unusual but grave complications including central retinal artery occlusion.

Keywords

• Cataract surgery
• peribulbar anesthesia
• Purtscher-like retinopathy