Sympathetic Ophthalmia

Sympathetic ophthalmia is a rare complication of penetrating ocular trauma in which the fellow, uninjured eye develops a severe autoimmune inflammatory reaction. Removing an injured eye is thought to reduce the very small risk of sympathetic ophthalmia, especially if it is done by 14 days after the injury. Thus, some advocate for prompt enucleation of eyes without vision (no light perception). Others advise against the removal of eye, because the disorder is extremely rare and treatable, and superior cosmetic and psychological outcomes are achieved with globe retention. Sympathetic ophthalmia is discussed in more detail in BCSC Section 9, Uveitis and Ocular Inflammation.

Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 10 - Glaucoma. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.