Vancomycin-associated retinal hemorrhages in pediatric age group: A case report

To report a case of possible post-lensectomy vancomycin-induced retinal hemorrhages in a 9-month-old infant to raise awareness of this rare postoperative complication in the pediatric age group.

A retinal vascular occlusion-like findings were noted bilaterally after sequential uneventful parsplicata lensectomy in a 9-month-old infant during the very early postoperative follow-up (1-2 days). The case was recorded with no remarkable intraoperative events and received intraoperative vancomycin 20μg/ml in irrigating solution (a routine endophthalmitis prophylactic protocol).

Vancomycin-associated hemorrhagic occlusive retinal vasculitis (HORV) is a rare reported postoperative complication of intraocular prophylactic vancomycin injection. Although all documented cases were reported in elderly patients aged 50 years and above, all presented with almost common findings of occlusive retinal vasculitis. To the best of author's knowledge, this is the first reported case of presumed HORV in pediatric age group. The author finds this of utmost importance to demonstrate the case to expand awareness of this possible complication in the pediatric age group as well.