Sudden loss of visual acuity following intra-articular steroid injection in to the knee joint: a case report

BACKGROUND: Exogenous and endogenous steroids have been implicated in the pathogenesis of central serous choroioretinopathy in the literature. Central serous choroioretinopathy presents as sudden reduction in visual acuity. CASE PRESENTATION: Despite the fact that steroid injections are so commonly used in the Orthopaedics there is no information regarding central serous chorioretinopathy in Orthopaedic literature. We report a case of acute onset central serous chorioretinopathy following an intra-articular injection. CONCLUSION: Orthopaedic surgeons and doctors dealing with Musculoskeletal problems need to be aware of this unusual complication of systemic steroid therapy and refrain from administering further steroids to patients with history of blurring of vision or sudden loss of visual acuity following previous steroid injections.