Secondary ocular hypertension due to tentorial dural arteriovenous fistula: a case report

BACKGROUND: Tentorial dural arteriovenous fistulas (TDAVFs) are abnormal shunts between meningeal arteries and the intradural venous system located in the tentorial dura mater, which typically manifest with haemorrhage or progressive neurological disorders. TDAVFs with pure ocular presentation have been rarely reported. CASE PRESENTATIONS: The case of a 56-year-old man presented with unilateral eye redness, proptosis and elevated intraocular pressure was reported herein, which was caused by a TDAVF. The fistula was fed by the left posterior cerebral artery and posterior meningeal artery. The drainage was into the basal vein and internal cerebral veins, which led the arterial blood flow forward to the left superior ophthalmic vein directly. The redundant blood flow caused the rise of episcleral venous pressure, leading to the clinical presentations. Gamma knife radiosurgery was performed then considering the delicate vascular structure and its deep location. The corkscrew hyperaemia was gradually alleviated after the surgery, but the intraocular pressure remained elevated at follow-ups. CONCLUSION: Dural arteriovenous fistulas which are not directly connected to cavernous sinus could cause ocular presentations like proptosis, eye redness and ocular hypertension. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12886-023-03124-8.