Retinal detachment in atopic dermatitis can masquerade as acute panuveitis with rapidly progressive cataract.

PURPOSE: To report two cases of retinal detachment in young patients with atopic dermatitis masquerading as acute panuveitis.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational clinical case reports.

PATIENTS: Patients with atopic dermatitis presenting with acute panuveitis and subsequently diagnosed with retinal detachment at the Singapore National Eye Centre.

METHODS

A review of the clinical case records.

RESULTS

Two young patients aged 19 and 21 years with a history of atopic dermatitis presented with acute unilateral moderately severe panuveitis. Both developed rapidly progressing cataracts that made detailed visualization of the fundus difficult. Hypotony persisted in one eye despite partial response of uveitis to therapy. The other patient developed ocular hypertension when the vision in the affected eye suddenly deteriorated. Both eyes demonstrated partial response to steroid therapy. The diagnosis of shallow retinal detachment with anteriorly located incriminating retinal breaks was made after partial resolution of vitreous haze in one case and on repeated ultrasonography in the other case.

CONCLUSION

A high index of suspicion is required when examining young patients with atopic dermatitis who present with acute panuveitis and a rapidly progressive cataract, which may mask the presence of a shallow retinal detachment.