Anatomical and surgical considerations and outcomes in infantile Terson syndrome

To study the presentation and outcomes of infantile Terson syndrome (TS).

This was a retrospective analysis of 18 eyes of nine infants diagnosed to have TS-related intraocular hemorrhage (IOH).

Nine infants (seven males) were diagnosed to have IOH secondary to TS, of which eight infants had imaging features suggestive of intracranial bleed meeting our definite criteria. Median age at presentation was 5 months. In 11 eyes of six infants with suspected birth trauma, the median age of presentation was 4.5 months (range 1-5 months) of which one baby had a history of suction cup-aided delivery and four babies had a history of seizures. Vitreous hemorrhage (VH) was noted in 15 eyes (extensive in 11 eyes). Ten of these eyes showed membranous vitreous echoes, or triangular hyperechoic space with apex at the optic nerve head (ONH) posteriorly and base at the posterior lens capsule anteriorly, with or without dot echoes in the rest of the vitreous cavity, with a configuration of "tornado-like hemorrhage" suggestive of Cloquet's canal hemorrhage (CCH). Eight eyes underwent lens-sparing vitrectomy (LSV) and one eye underwent lensectomy with vitrectomy (LV). On follow-up, disc pallor and retinal atrophy were noted in 11 and 10 eyes, respectively. The mean follow-up was 62 months (1.5 month-16 years). Visual acuity/behavior improved in all cases at the final follow-up. Developmental delay was noted in four children.

Unexplained and altered vitreous hemorrhage with typical ultrasonography (USG) features should raise the suspicion of CCH in TS. Despite early intervention to clear visual axis, anatomical and visual behavior may remain subnormal.