Occult globe rupture: diagnostic and treatment challenge

Occult globe rupture is a traumatic dehiscence of the sclera at or posterior to the rectus muscle insertions without a visible eye wall defect on slit lamp examination. Occult scleral ruptures are important because they can be difficult to diagnose, but normally require preoperative protection against external pressure to reduce risk of herniation of ocular contents through the rupture and then urgent surgical repair to restore eye wall structural integrity and achieve optimum prognosis. A deeper-than-normal anterior chamber with posteriorly retracted plateau iris seen immediately after acute ocular trauma is virtually pathognomonic of posterior globe dehiscence. Three additional less specific signs are helpful: extensive chemosis that is often hemorrhagic, relative hypotony, and vitreous hemorrhage. Although the diagnosis is normally clinical, made by history of direct severe ocular trauma and careful anterior-segment slit lamp examination, computed tomography and ultrasonography can be helpful when thorough slit lamp examination is not possible. Strong suspicion of occult rupture should engender surgical exploration. Vitreous hemorrhage, vitreous or retinal incarceration, and retinal tears or detachment may necessitate subsequent pars plana vitrectomy or other vitreoretinal surgery. When pars plana vitrectomy is indicated, special precautions are suggested if watertight closure of the globe rupture has not been possible.