Combined Central Retinal Vein and Artery Occlusion After Retrobulbar Anesthesia: A Case Report

PURPOSE: To report central retinal vein and artery occlusion after retrobulbar anesthesia for a cataract operation. CASE SUMMARY: A 65-year-old woman was transferred to our facility 4 days after she had undergone cataract extraction with IOL implantation. She could count fingers and had a relative afferent papillary defect in her left eye. As seen upon fundus examination, dot-shaped, circular-shaped irregular, and partially linear-shaped retinal hemorrhages were evident. Fluorescein angiography revealed that branch arteries around the nasal and temporal areas were not filled, and that the filling of veins was delayed. After two weeks, the patient was only able to recognize hand motion, and her intraocular pressure was 10 mmHg. According to a fundus examination, the size and quantity of retinal hemorrhages increased, and a pale, macular edema was observed. Following fluorescein angiography, the filling defect of branch vessels on the nasal and temporal areas was still evident, and the blocked fluorescence of capillaries on the fundus was prominent. After two months, she could still only recognize hand motion, and her intraocular pressure had increased to 35 mmHg; we therefore diagnosed a neovascular glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: A patient experienced a serious central retinal vessel occlusion after retrobulbar anesthesia for cataract extraction. Retrobulbar injections should therefore be administered with great caution to prevent this outcome.

Suprachoroidal Hemorrhage During Pars Plana Vitrectomy Associated with Valsalva Maneuver

PURPOSE: To report a suprachoroidal hemorrhage by Valsalva maneuver during vitrectomy under general anesthesia. CASE SUMMARY: A healthy 26-year-old man had vitrectomy under general anesthesia due to rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in his right eye. During scleral indentation and endolaser photocoagulation, he took a sudden and severe bucking reflex because the effect of general anesthesia was insufficient. After the bucking reflex, suprachoroidal hemorrhage occurred in his right eye. Immediate IOP elevation and hyperfluorocarbon tamponade was performed to remove the suprachoroidal hemorrhage and reattach the retina and choroid. The patient's corrected visual acuity was 20/50 and slender crescent shaped choroidal rupture remained around the temporal area of the macula, unlike traumatic choroidal rupture. Following fluorescein angiography, staining was evident at the choroidal rupture site; no fluorescein leakage was evident. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of acute suprachoroidal hemorrhage which we investigated by fundus examination and fluorescein angiography.

The Clear Oil-drop Residue After Intravitreal Injection: Comparison between Different Brands of Triamcinolone Acetonide

PURPOSE: To investigate the characteristics of the clear oil-drop residue observed in the vitreous cavity after intravitreal injection of different brands of triamcinolone acetonide (TA), and to compare this ingredient's effects in those products. METHODS: Intravitreal injections of four different brands of triamcinolone acetonide (4 mg/0.1 mL), which are commercially available in Korea, were given to 40 eyes for the treatment of macular edema due to a variety of causes from October 2005 through February 2006. Regular slit-lamp biomicroscopy of fundus had been performed periodically with digital image acquisition equipment after injection of TA for at least two months. We analyzed the characteristics of this residue and compared the number and size of this residue in each product. RESULTS: Four TA products commercially available in Korea were used, with vehicles composed of preservatives and suspending agents. There were differences between products in respect to ingredients and content, as well as the characteristics of the intravitreal clear oil droplet-like residue. CONCLUSIONS: Each TA product has a variable frequency and variable amounts of clear oil droplet-like residue, which seems to be a component of the vehicle. This variation could generate differences in efficacy, side effects, and retaining duration. It should be verified whether commercial TA products are consistently safe and effective.