[Unilateral exophthalmus in the course of spontaneous retrobulbar hemorrhage in a patient with arterial hypertension].

In this paper we present a case of a 60-year-old patient with labile hypertension, who was admitted to hospital because of unilateral exophthalmus and loss of vision of the left eye. During the hospitalization basic laboratory investigations, USG and NMR of orbits and arteriography of internal carotid arteries were carried out. Body temperature and arterial blood pressure were monitored. Leucocytosis and high values of arterial blood pressure in the early hours of the morning were found. Accessory investigations didn't explain the cause of exophthalmus. Repeated NMR of orbits showed image characteristic for retrobulbar haemorrhage in the left orbit. During the hospitalization hypotensive, anti-inflammatory and oedema-reducing treatment was administered, without surgical intervention. This case demonstrates that modern diagnostic investigations must be preceded by precise history taking concerning the early symptoms of the disease, its course and accompanying systemic diseases. Although spontaneous retrobulbar haemorrhages occur rarely, they must be taken into consideration in differential diagnosis of unilateral exophthalmus, especially in elderly patients with atherosclerosis and hypertension.