Retinopathy Associated With Hemoglobin AC

Abstract

Peripheral retinal neovascularization is a well-studied complication of sickle cell hemoglobinopathy and has been recognized in hemoglobin SC disease, hemoglobin SS disease, and sickle cell—β-thalassemia and occasionally in hemoglobin AS disease (sickle cell trait). 1 There are only a few reports in the literature of retinal vascular changes associated with hemoglobin AC disease (C trait), 1-3 a condition that generally has limited clinical manifestations. We report herein a case of subhyaloid hemorrhage and peripheral retinal neovascularization in the setting of hemoglobin AC disease. Report of a Case. A 57-year-old black man with a history of systemic hypertension and coronary artery disease presented in April 1988 with a complaint of central scotoma in the left eye. Best corrected visual acuities were 20/20 OD and 20/400 OS, and the findings on slit-lamp examination were normal in both eyes. Ophthalmoscopic examination of the right eye revealed a few, small, peripheral intraretinal hemorrhages. Ophthalmoscopic