Case Reports
Microcatheter in the vertebral artery as a cause of branched retinal artery occlusion?
A 19-year-old male presented to eye casualty with a seven-day history of a ‘blurred patch’ in the left eye. The patient denied any other visual symptoms including flashes or floaters and there had been no change in visual symptoms in...
Refractive surprise after cataract surgery caused by posterior capsular striae
Cataract removal with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is one of the most frequently performed surgeries in current clinical practice [1,2]. New microsurgical techniques and refined IOL power calculations allow excellent refractive outcomes. Refractive surprise following cataract surgery is uncommon [1-3]...
Acute uveitis from late migration of soft lens matter 10 years post cataract surgery
A 58-year-old Caucasian male presented to the emergency eye clinic with a two-day history of a painful, red left eye and blurred vision. His past ocular history included uncomplicated left phacoemulsification cataract surgery in 2010 and left retinal detachment repair...
Lockdown and eye health – a case of accommodative spasm
A 25-year-old male presented to the eye casualty with a one-day history of sudden onset worsening vision. More specifically, he noted his vision was more blurred than usual and this was more exaggerated for near-work than for distance-work. He was...
Is this a retinal detachment?
Despite the help of allied health professionals in triaging and managing acute ophthalmic emergencies, eye casualty remains overburdened. Trainees at the beginning of their training often struggle to manage such busy clinics with varied presentations. We present a case that...
Applanation tonometry in the pandemic era: Are facial masks an obstacle to a correct intraocular pressure measurement?
Current recommendations in the UK advise on wearing any facial covering to prevent the spread of the coronavirus [1]. Whilst this is vital for patient and hospital staff safety, it has led to several changes in the approach to a...
Anaesthetic drops abuse
A 67-year-old retired female nurse presented with persistent, bilateral, non-healing (>6 weeks) corneal ulcers and stromal ring infiltrates (Figures 1 and 2). The epithelial defects were the result of chemical burns caused by her contact lenses which had been stored...
Trabeculectomy with erroneous Mitomycin-C concentration – a near miss
Trabeculectomy is the most commonly performed surgical procedure for glaucoma in the United Kingdom and worldwide. Modifications to the technique have been made since its introduction in 1963, perhaps the most significant being the adjunctive use of mitomycin-C (MMC), which...
A step-by-step approach to the diagnosis and management of Sands of Sahara Syndrome
Sands of Sahara syndrome (diffuse lamellar keratitis) is a rare postoperative complication of Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Its estimated prevalence is reported to be 2-4% among LASIK cases [1], despite that, it is more likely to be encountered by...
Chronic dacryocystitis?
Lacrimal drainage system tumours are rare and lymphomas account for less than 10% of these tumours [1]. Most patients presenting with lymphoma infiltration of the lacrimal drainage system have a history of previously diagnosed lymphoma elsewhere. We report a case...
An unusual case of silicone oil in the anterior chamber simulating intraocular implant
Silicone oil internal tamponade has been used for over 50 years, even prior to pars plana vitrectomy [1].Over a course of time silicone oil may migrate to the anterior chamber through the pupil. This may disperse in the form of...
Fundus photography in Malawi – setting up a screening programmefor diabetic retinopathy
We present the case of a 53-year-old lady who presented to the diabetes outpatient clinic at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH), Lilongwe, Malawi. She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus six years ago, for which she takes metformin orally. She...
