CASE REPORT
Simultaneous Spontaneous Bilateral
Malignant Glaucoma Attack in a Young Patient
With Bilateral Posterior Polar Cataract
A case of posterior polar cataract developed sudden-onset
ocular pain and blurred vision. Because of high intraocular
pressure and shallow anterior chamber, iridotomy was
done and anti-glaucoma medication was started without
effect. Subsequently, right-eye vitrectomy was performed
after postoperative malignant glaucoma developed. Left-
eye intraocular pressure stabilized after accidental use of
cycloplegic agent. This therapy was continued.
ABSTRACT
ANN OPHTHALMOL. 2005; 37 (4) ..................................................285
HEYDAR AMINI, MD,
NASRIN FEKRAT, MD,
MOHAMMAD REZA RAZEGHINEJAD, MD
REPRINTS
Dr. Mohammad Reza Razeghinejad, Glaucoma Services, Department of
Ophthalmology, Khalili Hospital, Khalili Street, Shiraz, Iran. E-mail: razeghinejad
@yahoo.com.
Dr. Amini is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Farabi Hospital,
Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Dr. Fekrat is an ophthal-
mologist at the Razi Eye Clinic, Tehran, Iran. Dr. Razeghinejad is an Assistant
Professor of Ophthalmology at the Khalili Hospital, Shiraz University of Med-
ical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
The authors have stated that they do not have a significant financial interest or
other relationship with any product manufacturer or provider of services discussed
in this article. The authors also do not discuss the use of off-label products, which
includes unlabeled, unapproved, or investigative products or devices.
Submitted for publication: 8/1/05. Accepted: 8/20/05.
Annals of Ophthalmology, vol. 37, no. 4, Winter 2005
© Copyright 2005 by ASCO
All rights of any nature whatsoever reserved.
1530-4086/05/37:285–288/$30.00.
INTRODUCTION
Malignant glaucoma was first described by von
Graefe in 1869 as a form of postoperative glaucoma,
which usually results in blindness ( 1 ) . Although
malignant glaucoma may occur after many types of
ocular surgeries, it has been suggested that the periph-
eral lens and anterior ciliary body may become appo-
sitional in certain predisposed eyes, producing a
ciliary block (2–4). Blocking of the forward flow of
aqueous at the level of corona ciliaris in conjugation
with a dense anterior hyaloid membrane may result in
misdirection of aqueous flow in the vitreous cavity,
which displaces the lens–iris diaphragm anteriorly
and, consequently, the intraocular pressure (IOP)
rises. Such an event can occur in previously unoperat-
ed, predisposed eyes (5–9). Although there are several
individual case reports of spontaneous occurrence of
malignant glaucoma, to the best of our knowledge,
this is the first report of bilateral spontaneous malig-
nant glaucoma with the presence of posterior polar
cataract.
CASE REPORT
A 37-year-old woman with sudden-onset blurred vision
and pain of both eyes was referred in January 1998. She
had no previous ocular surgery and her general medical
history did not show any relevant findings. An initial
ocular examination revealed visual acuity of 20/200 in