Panscleritis as an Unusual Complication of Gonioscopy-assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy.

PURPOSE: The main purpose of this study was to report a case of panscleritis after gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT).

METHODS

We describe the case of a 33-year-old man with a history of unilateral anterior uveitis and glaucoma, who developed panscleritis after GATT surgery.

RESULTS

Uneventful GATT surgery was performed in a glaucomatous left eye. On the second postoperative day, the patient developed tenderness on palpation of the eye. Ophthalmic examination revealed significant diffuse hyperemia, elongated and tortuous upper bulbar conjunctival/scleral vessels, and exudative retinal detachment at the superior nasal quadrant, with diffuse scleral thickening. The patient was diagnosed as having panscleritis, which was attributed to the GATT surgery. Although the scleritis resolved completely with intravenous and oral methylprednisolone treatment, localized retinal detachment persisted.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery-induced posterior scleritis may occur following minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries such as GATT. Control of uveitis for at least 3 months before surgery is indicated in patients with uveitis if GATT surgery is planned.