Central retinal artery occlusion following forehead injection with a corticosteroid suspension

Intralesional injection of corticosteroid suspensions into or adjacent to the ocular adnexa is performed by a number of medical specialists including dermatologists. Although not widely known outside of the ophthalmic community, these injections can lead to blindness through embolization of the central retinal artery. A case of blindness following injection into the forehead lesion of a child with the rare dermatologic condition pyogenic arthritis and pyodermic gangrenosum syndrome is reported. Injection into or near the ocular adnexa may be performed in small boluses to reduce the chance of retinal embolization following entry into the arterial system.