Blindness secondary to steroid injections into the nasal turbinates
B. Byers
Two cases of inadvertent intra-arterial injection into the anterior
turbinates for treatment of allergic rhinitis resulted in retrograde flow
of methylprednisolone acetate in the ophthalmic artery. Both patients
demonstrated embolization of the retinal circulation, and one of the
choroidal circulation as well. Visual outcome was favorable, although one
patient showed a permanent paracentral scotoma. Fundus photographs clearly
showed intra-arterial obstruction of arterioles that cleared within several
days. Precautions can be taken for the prevention of this complication.
