Bilateral Serous Retinal Detachment Associated With Nonhypertensive Preeclampsia: A Case Report

TL;DR

A case report describes a pregnant woman with preeclampsia who developed bilateral retinal detachment and fully recovered after delivery.

Contribution

This report adds to the understanding of retinal detachment in nonhypertensive preeclampsia and emphasizes the need for ophthalmic evaluation.

Findings

Bilateral serous retinal detachment occurred in a patient with preeclampsia and only modest hypertension.

The patient fully recovered within a month after cesarean delivery.

The case underscores the importance of ophthalmic assessment in preeclamptic patients with visual symptoms.

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific multisystem disorder characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria, which may present with a variety of other maternal organ dysfunctions after 20 weeks of gestation. Although ocular complications are uncommon, serous (exudative) retinal detachment (SRD) can occur, especially in association with severe preeclampsia or HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) syndrome. While SRD may cause some discomfort for the patient due to decreased visual acuity resulting from its central location, full recovery is the rule, within a maximum of 12 weeks.

Here, we report a case of bilateral SRD in a 27-year-old nulliparous woman at 32 weeks’ gestation, with clinical features of preeclampsia despite only modest blood pressure elevation. After cesarean delivery at 32+3 weeks for preeclampsia with severe features, the patient had full anatomical and functional recovery by 1 month, with stable findings at 3 months.

This case highlights that SRD may complicate preeclampsia even when absolute blood pressure values are not markedly elevated and underscores the importance of prompt ophthalmic assessment in pregnant patients with visual complaints.

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