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INTRODUCTION: Hyphema and orbital apex syndrome occurring concurrently in a patient with herpes zoster ophthalmicus have not been reported previously. We present a case with these unique findings and discuss the pathogenesis of these conditions and their management. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 59-year-old Malay lady with underlying diabetes mellitus presented with manifestations of zoster ophthalmicus in the left eye. Two weeks later, she developed total hyphema, and complete ophthalmoplegia suggestive of orbital apex syndrome. She was treated with combination of intravenous acyclovir and oral corticosteroids, and regained full recovery of ocular motility. Total hyphema persisted, and she required surgical intervention. DISCUSSION: Hyphema is postulated to occur due to an immune vasculitis affecting the iris vessels. Orbital apex syndrome is probably due to an occlusive vasculitis affecting the vasculature of the extraocular muscles and optic nerve, resulting from a direct invasion by varicella zoster virus or infiltration of perivascular inflammatory cells. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the brain is essential to exclude possibility of local causes at the orbital apex area. CONCLUSION: Herpes zoster ophthalmicus is an uncommon ocular presentation. Managing two concurrent complications; persistent total hyphema and orbital apex syndrome is a challenging clinical situation. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential to prevent potential blinding situation.
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AIM: To identify the aetiology of open globe injuries at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia over a period of 10y and the prognostic factors for visual outcome. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records of open globe injury cases that presented from January 2000 to December 2009. Classification of open globe injury was based on the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology (BETT). Records were obtained with hospital permission via the in-house electronic patient management system, and the case notes of all patients with a diagnosis of open globe injury were scrutinised. Patients with prior ocular trauma, pre-existing ocular conditions affecting the visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, central vision or corneal thickness, as well as those with a history of previous intraocular or refractive surgery were excluded. Analysis of data was with SPSS version 20.0. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between prognostic factors and visual outcome. RESULTS: This study involved 220 patients (n=222 eyes). The most common place of injury was the home (51.8%), followed by the workplace (23.4%). Among children aged less than 16y of age, domestic-related injury was the predominant cause (54.6%), while in those aged 16y and above, occupational injuries were the most common cause (40.0%). Most eyes (76.5%) had an initial visual acuity worse than 3/60, and in half of these, the visual acuity improved. The visual outcome was found to be significantly associated with the initial visual acuity (P<0.005), posterior extent of wound (P<0.001), length of wound (P<0.001), presence of hyphaema (P<0.001) and presence of vitreous prolapse ((P<0.005). CONCLUSION: The most common causes of open globe injury are domestic accidents and occupational injuries. Significant prognostic factors for final visual outcome in patients with open globe injury are initial visual acuity, posterior extent and length of wound, presence of hyphaema and presence of vitreous prolapse. Awareness of the factors predicting a poor visual outcome may be helpful during counselling of patients with open globe injuries.