Terson syndrome was originally defined as a vitreous hemorrhage arising from an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (1); however, this definition has since been expanded to include retinal and preretinal hemorrhages (2,3). An abrupt increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) is typically responsible for this type of intraocular hemorrhage (4). Terson syndrome, which occurs in 10–20% of patients with SAH (5,6), may be caused by a severe cerebral hemorrhage induced by a head injury or by a subdural or epidural hematoma; however, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no studies describing patients with Terson syndrome who have not presented with cerebral hemorrhage following traumatic brain injury (TBI) (7).

The presence of vitreous and preretinal hemorrhage without cerebral hemorrhage occurring secondary to TBI, creates challenges for oculists and neurosurgeons and reduces the likelihood of Terson syndrome being considered. This study presents a rare case of Terson syndrome with no cerebral hemorrhage secondary to TBI.

The patient, a 33-year-old male miner, was hit in the right occipital region by a boulder while mining, three hours prior to admission to a local clinic. Computed tomography showed no cerebral lesion. One week later, the patient presented with sudden visual disturbance. Ophthalmoscopic examination detected vitreous hemorrhage in both eyes and the vitreous hemorrhage was subsequently managed with conservative treatment. The patient was referred to Tangshan Ophthalmology Hospital (Tangshan, China) due to visual deterioration six months subsequent to the onset of the symptoms. Visual acuity was 20/400 in each eye. The patient’s ophthalmic signs were as follows: Peripheral vitreous hemorrhage, peripheral preretinal hemorrhage, macula lutea and optic papilla traction and tractional retinal detachment (Fig. 1A, B and E–J). As a result, the patient was diagnosed with Terson syndrome and a vitrectomy was conducted. Two months subsequent to the surgery, the visual acuity was measured to be 20/1,000 in each eye. Color fundus photography, using a nonmyd 7™ camera (Kowa Company Ltd, Nagoya, Japan), showed that the retinal traction was released. In addition, optical coherence tomography, using a Stratus OCT 3,000 tomography instrument (Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc, Dublin, CA, USA), demonstrated retinal nerve fiber layer detachment in the macula lutea (Fig. 1C, D, K and L). Informed consent was obtained from the patient for the procedure and publication of the study.

Terson syndrome, a known complication of cerebral hemorrhage, may lead to loss of vision. Vision loss develops subsequent to cerebral hemorrhage, as a result of vitreous hemorrhage caused by retinal capillary disruption. The pathogenesis of Terson syndrome has been suggested to be associated with an impairment of the retinal microcirculation as a result of increased ICP following cerebral hemorrhage, which ultimately results in venous hypertension and hemorrhage (8). Therefore, the occurrence of the syndrome is closely correlated with poor outcome in terms of sequela from increased ICP.

The present case showed that the absence of cerebral hemorrhage secondary to TBI may induce an abrupt increase in ICP, resulting in Terson syndrome. Hoving et al(9) described a patient with an obstructive hydrocephalus, which was treated endoscopically; however, due to the inadvertent use of a pressure bag during rinsing, in combination with a blocked outflow channel, a steep rise in ICP occurred. Postoperatively, the patient experienced visual disturbances caused by bilateral retinal hemorrhage, and, ultimately, an iatrogenic Terson syndrome was diagnosed (9). In the present case, it is hypothesized that the cause of the Terson syndrome may have been a rapid elevation in ICP at the time of TBI, which affected peripapillary structures through the intervaginal space of the optic nerve sheath (10).

The immediate examination of patients with TBI for intraocular hemorrhage is important due to the fact that severe, non-clearing vitreous hemorrhage may result in visual loss. A prompt diagnosis of Terson syndrome for patients with vitreous hemorrhage suffering from TBI with no cerebral hemorrhage is required to enable vitrectomy to be performed earlier.