International ophthalmology
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The objective is to discuss the characteristics of three patients who developed sympathetic ophthalmia following vitreoretinal surgery. The first case was a 29-year-old man who underwent placement of an encircling band, pars plana vitrectomy, foreign body removal, endolaser photocoagulation, transscleral cryotherapy, and silicone oil injection due to a retained foreign body 3 months after a corneoscleral rupture repair. He experienced visual loss in the fellow eye 2 months after the vitrectomy. ⋯ Systemic steroid without immunosuppressive therapy rendered regression of the detachment and recovery of good visual acuity. Sympathetic ophthalmia may occur following vitreoretinal surgery either for trauma-related problems or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Since it may present with relatively mild anterior segment findings and mainly posterior segment involvement; any visual disturbance in the fellow eye of a patient with a history of perforating trauma or vitreoretinal surgery should be thoroughly evaluated for sympathetic ophthalmia.