Garlic and the strabismus surgeon

Abstract

Potential side-effects caused by complementary medicines are often not anticipated. A case is reported of bilateral retro-bulbar haemorrhages with elevated intraocular pressure during strabismus surgery that occurred as a result of odourless garlic tablet ingestion prescribed by a naturopath. A near-catastrophic event was averted with rapid recognition and medical treatment. This is believed to be the first such report of haemorrhaging in ophthalmic surgery induced by garlic. It is concluded that unregulated naturopathic prescribing is potentially dangerous; doctors need to ask specifically about naturopathic potions.