Monocular blindness due to central retinal artery occlusion in bipolar hemireplacement arthroplasty of the hip

Pandey V, Rao PS, Rao SK, Acharya KKV 
Correspondence: Dr Vivek Pandey, vivekortho@gmail.com 

ABSTRACT
Though rare, perioperative loss of vision after non-ocular surgeries is a disastrous complication. This has been reported after spine surgery or cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. We present an otherwise healthy 54-year-old man who underwent bipolar hemireplacement for a fractured neck of femur, and developed perioperative monocular visual loss due to central retinal artery occlusion, a complication hitherto unreported in hip replacement surgeries. The possible aetiological factors and the measures to prevent this complication are discussed.

Keywords: blindness, central retinal artery occlusion, hemireplacement arthroplasty, monocular blindness, perioperative visual loss
Singapore Med J 2008; 49(4):e96-e97