Delayed onset sympathetic ophthalmia.

Three cases of sympathetic ophthalmia that occurred up to 62 years after an ocular injury are reported. Sympathetic ophthalmia occurred spontaneously in the first case, 62 years after a shot-gun pellet had penetrated one eye. In the other two cases, further surgery had been performed on previously-injured eyes. This was followed by a bilateral granulomatous panuveitis that developed within a week in one case and after seven years in the other case. The risk of elective surgery in eyes that are already at risk of sympathetic ophthalmia and the practical aspects of patient counselling are discussed.