Intraocular hemorrhage after systemic thrombolytic therapy in a patient with exudative macular degeneration.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report a hemorrhagic complication from thrombolytic therapy in a patient with exudative macular degeneration. CASE REPORT A 75 year old patient with exudative macular degeneration developed pain and loss of vision in the left eye shortly after receiving tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) for a myocardial infarction. Examination revealed the patient to be in angle closure. A CT scan revealed the etiology of the angle closure to be a dense vitreous hemorrhage pushing the iris-lens diaphragm forward. Intraocular pressure was treated successfully, but the final visual acuity was only light perception. CONCLUSIONS: Thrombolytic therapy can lead to devastating intraocular hemorrhages. The presence of exudative macular degeneration may potentially increase the risk of developing such complications.