Citation

Lin JL, Servat JJ, Bernardino CR, Goldberg RA, Levin F. Orbit 2012; 31(4): 252-255.

Affiliation

Division of Orbital and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA , Los Angeles, CA , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.3109/01676830.2012.669013

PMID

22571651

Abstract

Purpose: To report a patient with bilateral corneal perforations and autoproptosis in a case of ocular Munchausen's syndrome. Design: Case report. Participant: A 26-year-old white male referred to the oculoplastics service with one month history of decreased vision bilaterally and painful right eye. Multiple eyelid scars and right corneal opacity were noted. The patient was previously seen at another institution for rapid loss of vision in both eyes. Interventions: An orbit decompression among many procedures failed to controlled extreme pain and proptosis. Main Outcome Measures: Resolution of proptosis, stabilization of vision, pain resolution. Results: Three weeks after enucleation of the right eye was offered, patient presented with spontaneous left ruptured globe. After multiple episodes of self-mutilation and infections, both eyes were exenterated. Conclusions: Munchausen syndrome can be seen with ophthalmic manifestations and should be considered in the differential diagnosis when ocular abnormalities cannot be explained after a thorough evaluation. Recognition of this psychiatric disease is not only important for correct medical diagnosis and treatment, but also essential in protecting the patients from unnecessary invasive and aggressive medical procedures.

Language: en