Peripheral retinal nonperfusion associated with essential thrombocytosis.

PURPOSE: To describe a patient with retinal complications of essential thrombocytosis.

METHOD: Case report. A 24-year-old man with acute vitreous hemorrhage of the right eye underwent ocular and systemic examinations to elucidate the origin of this condition.

RESULTS

Fluorescein angiography of the right eye showed an avascular peripheral retina with marked capillary nonperfusion, arteriovenous anastomosis, and sea fan neovascularization. Blood studies showed thrombocytosis without other associated systemic diseases. The peripheral retinal capillary nonperfusion and sea fan neovascularization were treated with dye-laser photocoagulation, and aspirin, 80 mg daily, was given for systemic treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

In our patient, the avascular retina was associated with essential thrombocytosis, which may cause an avascular peripheral retina with neovascularization and vitreous hemorrhage in otherwise healthy persons.