Swan Syndrome

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Swan syndrome, one of the chronic postoperative complications following cataract surgery produces recurrent hyphema from new vessels of the anterior chamber and thereby increases intraocular pressure (IOP). We report the first Korean case of "Swan syndrome". METHODS: A 66-year-old male complained of loss of vision and red eye two months after unplanned extracapsular cataract extraction in the right eye. At our glaucoma clinic, hyphema of 1 mm in height was noticed through a slit lamp. IOP was 33 mmHg. A new vessel at the inlet of the previous scleral tunnel incision was noticed through gonioscopic examination. We diagnosed this case with Swan syndrome. RESULTS: To remove the hyphema, anterior chamber irrigation was performed. However, the hyphema recurred. Therefore argon laser photocoagulation was performed with permanent non-recurrence of the hyphema and IOP was maintained within the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: Swan syndrome which produces recurrent hyphema with resultant blurred vision is associated with neovascularization originated from episcleral vessels. In this case, argon laser photocoagulation was effective in the eradication of the new vessel.