Sympathetic ophthalmitis post retinal detachment surgery

Abstract

We report a case of sympathetic ophthalmitis (SO) post scleral buckling and vitrectomy. A 24-year-old young male underwent retinal detachment surgery followed by silicone oil removal in the left eye. At 2-week follow-up, post oil removal, the patient was diagnosed with SO in the contralateral eye and was treated with bolus intravenous methylprednisolone and oral azathioprine which resulted in resolution of symptoms and best-corrected visual acuity improved to 20/20. Although rare, SO has a poor visual prognosis, if untreated, hence it is important to monitor the contralateral eye post vitreoretinal surgery. The presence of any inflammation in the fellow eye following vitreoretinal surgery should be treated as emergency.