Abstract

We present two unique cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) complicated by undiagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In the first case, a male diabetic patient, post-laser for PDR, underwent vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage. He developed recurrent post-operative hemorrhage necessitating repeat surgery. Further investigation revealed a total WBC count of 1,16,000/cu mm. The second case involves a diabetic woman post-vitrectomy for tractional retinal detachment who developed a double-layered hyphema on post-operative day one. The lower layer consisted of a blood clot with an upper milky-white layer. Investigations uncovered a total WBC count of 2,45,000/cu mm. Both went on to be diagnosed with CML.