Blindness as a complication of subcutaneous nasal steroid injection

Blindness as a result of steroid injection into areas adjacent to the eyes, namely the interior of the nose and eyelids, has been described in the otolaryngologic and ophthalmologic literature but at no time in the plastic surgery literature. We describe a case of permanent visual loss at the time of injection of a long-acting steroid to the dorsum of the nose for postrhinoplasty scarring. We suggest that before steroid injection for elective procedures, the patient be informed of all possible consequences of complications even if their occurrence is very rare.