Acute intraoperative choroidal effusion.

We studied five cases of acute choroidal effusion that occurred during intraocular surgery and one case of a localized choroidal hemorrhage. Acute intraoperative choroidal effusion is a poorly recognized surgical complication and may precede expulsive hemorrhage in many cases. The treatment is immediate closure of the wound, after which the intraocular pressure may rise to 80 mm Hg or more. However, the pressure will return to normal after 15 to 30 minutes and the area of effusion will remain localized. Scleral puncture to drain fluid is not indicated if the wound can be closed before there is a prolapse of the iris or other intraocular tissues.