Monocular blindness following elective hip arthroplasty


Published online: Dec 27 2009

Ciara McGuire, Colin Murphy, Natasha O'Malley, Declan Reidy

From Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland

Abstract

Visual loss is a devastating complication of non-ophthalmic surgery. It is documented following cardiac, spinal, and transplant surgery. Patients with carotid artery occlusion are at increased risk for ocular ischaemia. Pre-operative assessment as well as early diagnosis and treatment is essential in cases of high-risk patients. We discuss the case of an 82-year-old man who underwent an elective total hip replacement and was left with monocular hemispherical blindness as a result of branch retinal artery occlusion.