Bilateral Serous Retinal Detachment Associated With Nonhypertensive Preeclampsia: A Case Report

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific multisystem disorder characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria, which may present with a variety of other maternal organ dysfunctions after 20 weeks of gestation. Although ocular complications are uncommon, serous (exudative) retinal detachment (SRD) can occur, especially in association with severe preeclampsia or HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) syndrome. While SRD may cause some discomfort for the patient due to decreased visual acuity resulting from its central location, full recovery is the rule, within a maximum of 12 weeks. Here, we report a case of bilateral SRD in a 27-year-old nulliparous woman at 32 weeks’ gestation, with clinical features of preeclampsia despite only modest blood pressure elevation. After cesarean delivery at 32+3 weeks for preeclampsia with severe features, the patient had full anatomical and functional recovery by 1 month, with stable findings at 3 months. This case highlights that SRD may complicate preeclampsia even when absolute blood pressure values are not markedly elevated and underscores the importance of prompt ophthalmic assessment in pregnant patients with visual complaints.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2026-02-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.104306
Primary Topic
Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Bilateral Serous Retinal Detachment Associated With Nonhypertensive Preeclampsia: A Case Report

Özge Öztürk, Sina Hakami
Cureus
Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
article

Bilateral Serous Retinal Detachment Associated With Nonhypertensive Preeclampsia: A Case Report

Özge Öztürk, Sina Hakami
article en

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific multisystem disorder characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria, which may present with a variety of other maternal organ dysfunctions after 20 weeks of gestation. Although ocular complications are uncommon, serous (exudative) retinal detachment (SRD) can occur, especially in association with severe preeclampsia or HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) syndrome. While SRD may cause some discomfort for the patient due to decreased visual acuity resulting from its central location, full recovery is the rule, within a maximum of 12 weeks. Here, we report a case of bilateral SRD in a 27-year-old nulliparous woman at 32 weeks’ gestation, with clinical features of preeclampsia despite only modest blood pressure elevation. After cesarean delivery at 32+3 weeks for preeclampsia with severe features, the patient had full anatomical and functional recovery by 1 month, with stable findings at 3 months. This case highlights that SRD may complicate preeclampsia even when absolute blood pressure values are not markedly elevated and underscores the importance of prompt ophthalmic assessment in pregnant patients with visual complaints.

Cureus
Gender equality
Openalex Percentile: Top 38%
Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.