Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
Hepatitis B vaccination has been proven to be effective and well-tolerated. Certain neurological, ocular or systemic complications have, however, been reported to be induced by the vaccine. Clinicians should be aware of exceptional ocular complications.
CLINICAL REPORT:
Four patients under 50 years of age developed occlusion of the central vein of the retina after vaccination with recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. None of the classical causes of occlusion of the central vein of the retina could be evidenced.
DISCUSSION:
Several pathophysiological hypotheses have been proposed to explain these ocular manifestations after vaccination: role of immunocomplexes, antigenic cross-reactions, role of immediate hypersensitivity, simulation of a pathogenic lymphocyte repertoire. None of these hypotheses is entirely satisfactory. It is important however to emphasize the need for a complete general evaluation, including an ophthalmological examination in the presence of unexplained ocular manifestations following hepatitis B vaccination.