RUPTURED GLOBE DURING ORBITAL DECOMPRESSION SURGERY

A 74-year-old patient sought treatment for visual obscuration and clin ically had signs of Graves orbitopathy. Past medical history was unrem arkable except for the use of antihypertensive medication. During the hospital admission, a fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test was reactive, indicating infection with syphilis at some time in the p ast. Visual deterioration despite oral corticosteroid therapy prompted orbital decompression. At the time of surgery, she sustained a globe rupture. Presumably, syphilitic scleritis was responsible, in part, fo r scleral thinning and weakening, predisposing her to this complicatio n. To the authors' knowledge, globe rupture has not been previously re ported during orbital decompression.