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Sickle cell hyphema with secondary glaucoma in a non-black patient
Insights
A child with sickle trait experienced high eye pressure after an eye injury. This case highlights the importance of considering sickle cell hemoglobinopathy in secondary glaucoma, even in non-Black individuals.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Hematology
Background:
- Secondary glaucoma can arise after blunt ocular trauma.
- Sickle cell hemoglobinopathies are a group of inherited blood disorders.
Observation:
- A 5-year-old Mexican-American boy presented with elevated intraocular pressure following a traumatic hyphema.
- Laboratory tests revealed the child had sickle trait.
Findings:
- The patient's intraocular pressure normalized after surgical drainage of the hyphema.
- Sickle trait was identified as a potential contributing factor to the elevated intraocular pressure.
Implications:
- Sickle cell hemoglobinopathy should be included in the differential diagnosis for secondary glaucoma post-ocular trauma.
- This consideration is crucial even in patients without a typical Black ancestry.
Abstract:
A 5-year-old Mexican-American boy developed marked elevation of intraocular pressure in association with a small traumatic hyphema. Laboratory studies prompted by this clinical presentation revealed that the child had sickle trait. Pressure returned to normal after surgical evacuation of blood from the anterior chamber. Sickle cell hemoglobinopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of secondary glaucoma following blunt ocular trauma even in non-black patients.