Abstract:

We report a case of blindness due to occlusion of the ophthalmic artery following injection of autologous fat into the glabellar region for cosmetic surgery. A 30-year-old woman underwent aspiration of autologous fat from her gluteal region and injection of it into her breasts, nose, and glabellar area. At the time of injection into the glabellar area, she suffered nausea, pain, and visual loss in her right eye. She consulted an ophthalmologist. The first examination revealed that her right eye had loss of light perception, widespread retinal whitening, and obstruction of the retinal vessels of the fundus. It was suspected that she had occlusion of the central retinal artery, and drip infusion of urokinase and hyperbaric oxygen therapy were implemented. Since no improvement was seen, she was referred to Shinshu University hospital. Fundoscopy showed remarkable edema of the entire right retina and whitened retinal vessels. Fluorescein angiography showed no filling of the right retinal arterioles. Cerebral angiography showed complete obstruction of the right ophthalmic artery at its bifurcation. Subsequent administration of urokinase and corticosteroid had no effect. We considered that occlusion of the ophthalmic artery happened when autologous fat was injected into the glabellar area.

Mori, Ohta, Nagano, Toshinori, Yago, Ichinose, , , (2007). [A case of ophthalmic artery obstruction following autologous fat injection in the glabellar area]. Nippon Ganka Gakkai zasshi, 2007 Jan;111(1):22-5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17305092