Hypotony maculopathy: improvement of visual acuity after 7 years.

PURPOSE: To describe a 79-year-old Caucasian male with a history of hypotony maculopathy for 7 years after cataract extraction with subsequent recovery of normal intraocular pressure and improvement of visual acuity.

METHODS

Interventional case report. The patient developed an intraocular pressure ranging from 0 to 5 mm Hg after cataract surgery. He developed hypotony maculopathy, and the visual acuity declined to 20/200. On evaluation 7 years later, a superior cyclodialysis cleft was detected and treated with the argon laser.

RESULTS

Closure of the cleft with argon laser was successful. The intraocular pressure stabilized at 17 to 20 mm Hg, and the visual acuity improved to 20/30.

CONCLUSION

The development of hypotony maculopathy leads to impairment of visual acuity. This case demonstrates that visual acuity can improve after resolution of the maculopathy even after several years of hypotony.