Challenges in Management of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment in a Patient With Wilson’s Disease: A Case Report and Literature Review

Wilson’s disease (WD) is a rare hepatolenticular inherited disorder affecting copper transport resulting in accumulation of copper, which leads to the induction of apoptosis in different organs. Furthermore, patients with WD have elevated cytokines activity responsible for inflammation of various tissues. Here, we report our challenges in managing a case of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in a one-eyed 28-year-old male with WD who had a previous history of severe intraocular inflammation that ended with phthisis bulbi after pars plana vitrectomy for RRD. After one year, he developed RRD in the seeing eye. A decision was made to perform scleral buckling to avoid the risk of postoperative intraocular inflammation. However, a barrage laser was required for shallow retinal detachment in a subsequent follow-up, which was ultimately complicated by severe intraocular inflammation. We observed that our patient with WD had a tendency for severe intraocular inflammation, even following minor non-surgical ophthalmic procedures. For this reason, ophthalmologists need to be aware of managing similar cases and perhaps other diseases associated with elevated levels of cytokines.