UNUSUAL RETINAL VASCULAR CHANGES IN TRAUMATIC INJURY OF THE CHEST

Abstract

Ocular disturbances that are the result of injury to other parts of the body are extremely rare. Angiopathia retinae traumatica is a name given by Purtscher¹to a peculiar fundus change in which there is probably an extravasation of lymph into the retinal tissues, as the result of a severe injury, generally a head injury. In some instances of trauma from severe compression of the chest, vascular complications may arise. The changes that occur in the fundi are of importance not only to the ophthalmologist, but also to the internist and surgeon. Changes in the fundus accompanying such injuries have been reported from several European clinics, and the writers have discussed the etiology and possible pathology, but there still exists considerable controversy concerning their cause. In reviewing the available literature on these interesting changes, I find little reference to them by American ophthalmologists. In fact, little has been