Chronic chorioretinal detachment under normal intraocular pressure in eye with uveitic glaucoma after trabeculectomy: A case report

RATIONALE: Choroidal detachment is a major postoperative complication of trabeculectomy. Postoperative choroidal detachment occurs with low intraocular pressure (IOP), and is naturally resolved by elevation of IOP. We report a case of chronic chorioretinal detachment (CRD) in the eye with uveitic glaucoma after trabeculectomy which persisted with normal IOP resistant for medication and required surgery. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 63-year-old man was referred to our department with uncontrolled uveitic glaucoma in his right eye. At first presentation, IOP was 62 mm Hg in the right eye with opened angle, and active ocular inflammation was presented by moderate cell infiltration to the anterior chamber. DIAGNOSIS: Uveitic glaucoma. INTERVENTIONS: Trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C combined with phacoemulsification were performed without any surgical trouble. Postoperative inflammation in the anterior segment was mild, and IOP decreased to the middle-teen. OUTCOMES: At 19 days after surgery, the depth of the anterior chamber changed to shallow and CRD occurred in the inferior quadrant area. This complication could not be resolved by additional systemic corticosteroid medication and scleral fenestration. Although IOP was maintained in middle-teen range, suture fixation of the sclera flap and additional scleral fenestration were necessary to resolve CRD at 191 days after primary surgery. LESSONS: In uveitic eye with uncontrolled ocular hypertension, severe CRD after trabeculectomy is able to occur even with normal IOP, which requires surgical procedure in addition to the medical treatment.