Nontraumatic ghost cell glaucoma--a case report

Ghost cell glaucoma (GCG) has recently been described following vitrectomy, cataract extraction, and penetrating or blunt trauma. We describe the occurrence of GCG in a phakic eye with no prior ocular trauma or surgery following vitreous hemorrhage from diabetic retinopathy. We postulate the occurrence of a spontaneous rupture of the anterior hyaloid face which allowed passage of ghost cells into the anterior chamber. A therapeutic vitrectomy was complicated by intraoperative vitreous hemorrhage. Two weeks postvitrectomy, GCG recurred and was successfully controlled by irrigation through an anterior chamber approach. This is the procedure of choice in GCG following vitrectomy and may eliminate the need for a second vitrectomy.