A neovascularized epiretinal membrane in a patient with terson syndrome

We report on a patient with Terson syndrome in the left eye complicated by a neovascularized epiretinal membrane likely secondary to cocaine use.

Case report and literature review using the Medline database (1966-2007).

A woman known for cocaine use was seen in the ophthalmology clinic for Terson syndrome in the left eye after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Ten months later, a neovascularized epiretinal membrane was noted in the left eye and confirmed with retinal angiography and optical coherence tomography. After vitrectomy, the neovascular membrane was sent for histopathological examination, revealing neovascular capillaries.

Neovascularized epiretinal membranes have never been reported in Terson syndrome and in our patient this likely occurred due to an ischemic retinal environment created by cocaine use and decreased retinal perfusion after subarachnoid hemorrhage.