Ocular manifestations following injections of serum have not been common, although cases have been reported. Mason1 reported 3 cases in which measurable blurring of the optic disks developed during serum sickness, with gradual return to normal. Brown2 reported 5 cases in which elevation of the disk and edema of the retina developed after administration of diphtheria antitoxin. These signs subsided in a few days. Bedell3 described severe and extensive bilateral edema of the retina with superficial hemorrhages, which he attributed to serum sickness following the injection of tetanus antitoxin. This condition cleared up rapidly, leaving few vestiges. Theodore and Lewson4 reported 1 case of iritis following antipneumococcic serum.
The case reported here is unusual because it involved damage to the iris, lens, optic nerve and retina without any serum sickness or other prodromal symptoms.
A white soldier aged 22 walked into the ophthalmic clinic complaining of