Unusual presentation of ocular trauma in sickle cell trait

Abstract

Sickle cell trait is usually considered as a benign condition. However under certain adverse circumstances, it can give rise to vaso-occlusive features as in sickle cell disease. We present here two cases, both involving healthy young males, who developed retinal vaso-occlusive features following blunt ocular trauma. There was a rapid progression of the retinopathy with the development of proliferative changes in both patients and also vitreous hemorrhage in one patient, within 2 months of the trauma. The development of retinopathy was independent of raised intraocular pressure. Both patients were found to have sickle cell trait.

Keywords

• Proliferative sickle retinopathy
• raised intraocular pressure
• sickle cell trait
• trauma
• vaso-occlusion