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A case of purtscher-like retinopathy following a motor vehicle accident
Hilary M Grabe1, David N Zacks
1From the Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Purpose:
To describe a case of Purtscher-like retinopathy following seat belt compression of the chest in a motor vehicle accident.
Methods:
Case report.
Results:
A 53-year-old woman developed Purtscher-like retinopathy following compression of the chest by her seat belt in a motor vehicle accident. Observation was recommended, and on follow-up examination at 8 weeks her vision, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography had returned to baseline.
Conclusion:
Seat belts may produce chest compression to induce a Purtscher-like retinopathy in varying degrees associated with the severity of the accident and subsequent compressive forces of the seat belt.
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