Anterior segment ischemia and sector iris atrophy: after strabismus surgery in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

A 69-year-old woman with chronic lymphocytic leukemia developed segmental iris atrophy and iridocyclitis after routine surgery for exotropia. Both the clinical picture and fluorescein angiogram indicated anterior segment ischemia. It is postulated that this was related to hyperviscosity of the blood caused by a high white blood cell count (114,000/cu mm). The possibility of anterior segment ischemia should be kept in mind when contemplating strabismus or retinal detachment surgery in the presence of hematologic disorders likely to increase blood viscosity. In these cases a minimal amount of surgery should be done with proper supportive therapy. Strabismus surgery should be done in stages allowing for hemodynamic compensation between procedures.