Anterior segment ischemia following strabismus surgery in a young adult using gender-affirming estrogen hormone therapy

Abstract

Well-known risk factors for anterior segment ischemia (ASI) following strabismus surgery include ipsilateral surgery on three or more rectus muscles, older age, and vasculopathy. ASI is rarely reported in young patients following uneventful strabismus surgery on two ipsilateral rectus muscles. We report a 30-year-old transgender female on long-term estrogen therapy who underwent strabismus surgery involving recessions of both lateral rectus muscles, the right inferior rectus muscle, and the left superior rectus muscle. The left eye developed severe ASI with hypotony maculopathy that was resistant to topical medications, oral steroids, anterior chamber reformation, and intravitreal steroid injection. Following phacoemulsification with intraocular lens and capsular tension ring insertion 1 year later, intraocular pressure and hypotony maculopathy improved.