PURPOSE: To report the clinical and spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings in a patient with bilateral central vision loss and a history of exposure to polyamides. METHODS: The clinical presentation of the patient was documented with color fundus photographs and spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The patient was a 20-year-old male factory worker with no medical history who was initially admitted for workup of hematologic malignancy due to petechiae and fevers. RESULTS: Optical coherence tomography revealed bilateral hemorrhages in the subinternal limiting membrane space resembling Valsalva retinopathy. Complete blood count revealed pancytopenia and marked thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSION: Heavy exposure to benzene, a byproduct of the polyamide-curing process, is known to cause aplastic anemia. Accompanying thrombocytopenia may increase the risk of spontaneous subinternal limiting membrane hemorrhage.
PURPOSE: To report the clinical and spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings in a patient with bilateral central vision loss and a history of exposure to polyamides. METHODS: The clinical presentation of the patient was documented with color fundus photographs and spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The patient was a 20-year-old male factory worker with no medical history who was initially admitted for workup of hematologic malignancy due to petechiae and fevers. RESULTS: Optical coherence tomography revealed bilateral hemorrhages in the subinternal limiting membrane space resembling Valsalva retinopathy. Complete blood count revealed pancytopenia and marked thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSION: Heavy exposure to benzene, a byproduct of the polyamide-curing process, is known to cause aplastic anemia. Accompanying thrombocytopenia may increase the risk of spontaneous subinternal limiting membrane hemorrhage.