BILATERAL SECONDARY ANGLE-CLOSURE GLAUCOMA AS A COMPLICATION OF ANTICOAGULATION IN A NANOPHTHALMIC PATIENT

PURPOSE: To describe bilateral hemorrhage of the posterior segment and secondary angle-closure glaucoma as sequelae of anticoagulation thera py in a nanophthalmic patient. METHODs: An 80-year-old man who was nan ophthalmic and was undergoing anticoagulation therapy presented with d eclining visual acuity in left eye. Six months later, he experienced d eclining visual acuity in his right eye. RESULTS: In the LE and six mo nths later in the RE, ocular examination disclosed angle-closure glauc oma and a hemorrhagic retinal detachment. Peripheral iridoplasty succe ssfully treated the initial attack. The subretinal hemorrhage was succ essfully drained by pars plana vitrectomy, retinotomy, and air-fluid e xchange in the left eye. Anatomic success and intraocular pressure con trol were obtained, but visual recovery was limited. CONCLUSION: Intra ocular hemorrhage and angle-closure glaucoma are potential complicatio ns of anticoagulation therapy in a patient with nanophthalmos. (Am J O phthalmol 1998; 126: 307-309. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc. All ri ghts reserved.).