Delayed Acute Granulomatous Anterior Uveitis after Inadvertent Intraocular Injection of Tattoo Ink from a Scleral Tattoo Procedure

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To improve awareness of delayed onset uveitis in patients with a history of intraocular tattoo ink injection.

Results: A 47-year-old man underwent a scleral tattoo procedure during which there was inadvertent intraocular injection of tattoo ink into his right eye. He subsequently developed endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, and retinal necrosis. He was treated with intravitreal and oral antibiotics and underwent vitreoretinal surgical intervention. A vitreous specimen was obtained and demonstrated significantly elevated levels of several heavy metals. One month later, he developed an acute granulomatous anterior uveitis in the same eye that was managed with a combination of topical and perioperative intravitreal, intravenous, and oral corticosteroids.

Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of monitoring patients with a history of intraocular tattoo ink injection for delayed onset uveitis in addition to retinal toxicity.

KEYWORDS:

• Scleral tattoo
• granulomatous uveitis
• intraocular tattoo ink
• penetrating trauma

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the assistance of Karen Zeigler, DO, and Deborah French, MD, of the UCSF Department of Pathology, in the mass spectrometry analysis of the vitreous specimens.

Disclosure statement

GS is a consultant with Dompé Pharmaceuticals. The other authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Research to Prevent Blindness; That Man May See, Inc.; National Eye Institute [1R01EY024004, Core Grant for Vision Research EY002162].