Proliferative vitreoretinopathy as a late complication of blunt ocular trauma

Blunt ocular trauma to the eye can manifest in many ways. However, it is unknown how long patients are at risk for certain complications after the initial injury. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy is one possible complication of ocular trauma. This condition generally results from severe ocular trauma, chronic retinal detachment, or retinal surgery. The nidus for proliferation is unclear; however, once formed, proliferative membranes create traction at the vitreoretinal surface, leading to further complications and ocular morbidity.

A 34-year-old man presented emergently with decreased vision in the left eye for 3 weeks and pain for 3 days. The patient denied any recent trauma or systemic disease but did report trauma to his left eye approximately 5 years earlier. His best-corrected acuities were 20/20 in the right eye and light perception in the left eye. The anterior segment evaluation found a nearly complete hyphema, iris neovascularization, and superior uveal prolapse through scleral perforation of the left eye. Retinal detachment and proliferative vitreoretinal disease were also discovered, necessitating surgical repair.

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy is associated with severe ocular trauma. In this case, the patient had a markedly delayed onset of proliferative retinopathy resulting from blunt trauma with partial perforation 5 years before. Clinicians should be aware of the potential for the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy as a long-term complication of blunt ocular trauma as well as the treatment options for this disease.