Ophthalmology
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An explanation for Terson syndrome at last: The glymphatic reflux theoryTerson Syndrome (TS) describes the presence of intraocular hemorrhage in patients with intracranial hemorrhage, typically subarachnoid hemorrhage. Despite TS being a well-defined and frequently occurring phenomenon, its pathophysiology remains controversial. This review will present the current understanding of TS, with view to describing a contemporary and more plausible pathomechanism of TS, given recent advances in ophthalmic science and neurobiology. Previously proposed theories include a sudden rise in intracranial pressure (ICP) transmitted to the optic nerve sheath leading to rupture of retinal vessels; or intracranial blood extending to the orbit via the optic nerve sheath. The origin of blood in TS is uncertain, but retinal vessels appear to be an unlikely source. In addition, an anatomical pathway for blood to enter the eye from the intracranial space remains poorly defined. An ocular glymphatic system has recently been described, drainage of which from the globe into intracranial glymphatics is reliant on the pressure gradient between intraocular pressure and intracranial pressure. The glymphatic pathway is the only extravascular anatomical conduit between the subarachnoid space and the retina. We propose that subarachnoid blood in skull base cisterns near the optic nerve is the substrate of blood in TS. Raised ICP causes it to be refluxed through glymphatic channels into the globe, resulting in intraocular hemorrhage. We herewith present glymphatic reflux as an alternative theory to explain the phenomenon of Terson Syndrome.Copyright © 2021, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
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Terson syndrome in reverse: Intraventricular haemorrhage following primary intraocular haemorrhageTerson syndrome (TS) describes the presence of intraocular haemorrhage in patients with intracranial haemorrhage or traumatic brain injury. The aetiology of TS is controversial as an anatomical conduit between the vitreous humour and subarachnoid space remains contested. We herewith present a case of primary vitreous haemorrhage with secondary intracranial extension into the ventricles. Cranial CT demonstrates blood within the left optic nerve and chiasm but not within the subarachnoid space. This unusual phenomenon, which has not been reported before, may be described as 'Terson syndrome in reverse'. We explore mechanisms by which blood within the globe may track into the ventricular system, contextualising recent advances in the understanding of ocular-intracranial fluid transport.Copyright © 2022, Fondazione Societa Italiana di Neurologia.