A Rare Coexistence of Isolated Unilateral Conjunctival Telangiectasia and Retinal Vascular Tortuosity

Abstract

A 55-year-old woman with no known systemic disorder and without any history of ocular disease, trauma, and surgery presented with a nonremitting conjunctival redness on her left eye that was existing since her childhood. On ophthalmological examination, an extremely rare coexistence of isolated unilateral bulbar conjunctival telangiectasia and ipsilateral retinal vascular tortuosity without any systemic and neuroradiological association was detected. We aimed to demonstrate this rare vascular coexistence and discuss differential diagnosis of the underlying causes.

Eye in ataxia telangiectasia

“…Clinicians must be aware of the potential for malignancy, and particularly haematological malignancy, in these patients. Conjunctival telangiectasia can be seen in some inherited systemic syndromes such as A-T, hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia, Fabry’s disease, Bloom syndrome, Alport syndrome and may also be associated with chronic ocular surface disorders such as ocular rosacea 3. Telangiectasia in A-T is noted primarily on interpalpebral, bulbar conjunctiva over the exposed portion of sclera and they may appear much later than neurological symptoms 4.…”

“…Conjunctival telangiectasia can be seen in some inherited systemic syndromes such as A-T, hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia, Fabry's disease, Bloom syndrome, Alport syndrome and may also be associated with chronic ocular surface disorders such as ocular rosacea. 3 Telangiectasia in A-T is noted primarily on interpalpebral, bulbar conjunctiva over the exposed portion of sclera and they may appear much later than neurological symptoms. 4 Adults with milder forms of the disease (variant A-T) often do not have ocular telangiectasia.…”