A diabetic patient developed an unilateral raised intraocular pressure. An aqueous tap was similar to the picture below.

• What does the picture show?


Answer
Abnormal shaped red blood cells containing Heinz bodies. (see picture below)

 
What is responsible for the raised intraocular pressure?

a
Answer
Ghost cell glaucoma. 
The patient had had vitreous haemorrhage from proliferative diabetic retinopathy.  If the anterior 
hyaloid face is defective, the red blood cells can enter the anterior chamber. 
As the red blood cells lose the haemoglobin they
become rigid and can block the trabecular meshwork causing raised intraocular pressure.