Candy Stripe Hyphaema

A 52-year-old patient was referred for elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) following pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil (SO) tamponade in his left eye (LE) for proliferative diabetic retinopathy and tractional retinal detachment. LE visual acuity was light perception with an IOP of 50 mmHg. Slit-lamp evaluation showed epithelial oedema, small SO bubble superiorly, and blood clot with layers of straw-coloured ghost cells on top, suggestive of candy stripe hyphaema [Figure 1]. Ghost cells are dehaemoglobinised erythrocytes which gain entry into the vitreous cavity following trauma, surgery, or retinal diseases. After seven to 10 days of haemorrhage, erythrocytes lose their haemoglobin and form ghost cells. If the anterior hyaloid is breached, these ghost cells along with normal RBCs enter the anterior chamber and form candy stripe hyphaema.Figure 1: Anterior Segment examination showing blood clot with layers of khaki colored ghost cells on top suggestive of ‘Candy Stripe’ pattern and a small silicon oil bubble superiorlyFinancial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.