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Bilateral posterior vitreous detachment after electroconvulsive therapy.
Erika Martínez-Amorós1, Eva Real Barrero, Celia Fuste Fusares
1Physical Therapy Unit, Psychiatry Department, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospitalet del Llobregat, Barcelona 08907, Spain. emartinez@idibell.org
General Hospital Psychiatry
|June 27, 2009
Summary
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can cause acute bilateral posterior vitreous detachment. This case report details a patient experiencing this rare ocular side effect after multiple ECT sessions.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment most often used for patients with severe major depression or other serious mental illnesses that have not responded to other treatments.
- Ocular side effects, though uncommon, have been reported with ECT.
- Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is a common age-related condition, but can also be triggered by other factors.
Observation:
- A patient undergoing ECT developed acute bilateral posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).
- Symptoms of PVD manifested immediately after the eighth ECT session.
- An ophthalmologist confirmed the diagnosis, leading to the cessation of ECT.
Findings:
- This case report presents a direct association between electroconvulsive therapy and the onset of acute bilateral posterior vitreous detachment.
- The timing of symptom onset suggests a potential causal link between ECT and PVD in susceptible individuals.
- Literature review indicates a need for further investigation into ECT-induced ocular complications.
Implications:
- Ophthalmologists and psychiatrists should be aware of the potential for ECT to induce PVD.
- Patients undergoing ECT may require pre-treatment and follow-up ophthalmological evaluations.
- Understanding this association can help in managing patient safety and optimizing ECT protocols.
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