Sympathetic ophthalmia after a hyphema due to nonpenetrating trauma

To report a case of sympathetic ophthalmia occurring after nonpenetrating ocular trauma.

Interventional case report.

An 18-year-old white male presented with sympathetic ophthalmia four weeks after a hyphema from a nonpenetrating bungee cord injury. Vision was 20/20; there were keratic precipitates, anterior chamber cells, vitritis, and discrete yellow deep choroidal lesions consistent with Dalen-Fuch's nodules OU. The uveitis was treated with topical, oral, and periocular corticosteroids and the oral immunosuppressives cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil. Vision remained 20/20 OU for the first year of follow-up; vision OD then deteriorated to 20/50 over the next year with the formation of a posterior subcapsular cataract OD.

Sympathetic ophthalmia may result from nonpenetrating ocular trauma. Ophthalmologists should be aware of this as prompt intervention is warranted.