DJO | Digital Journal of Ophthalmology

Figure 1.
The initial visual field (A, B) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). The average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was 85 ?m for the right eye (C) and 77 ?m for the left eye (D). The average cup-to-disc of the optic nerve head for both eyes is 0.62. The axial length and the anterior chamber depth for both eyes was 23.20 mm and 2.82 mm, respectively.

Figure 2.
Initial anterior segment OCT imaging of the right eye (A) and left eye (B) showing lens vaulting, narrow angles and some mild plateau iris configuration. Anterior segment OCT imaging of the right eye (C) and left eye (D) 3 days after laser iridoplasty showing mild improvement in plateau iris configuration.

Figure 3.
Computed tomography (sagittal cut) of the head and neck demonstrating elongation of the styloid process characteristic in stylohyoid or Eagle syndrome.

Figure 4.
OCT of the RNFL 10 months after initial presentation demonstrating progressive thinning of the nerve fiber layer in the left eye. The average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was 83 ?m for the right eye (A) and 73 ?m for the left eye (B).


A 57-year-old woman with periocular pain Digital Journal of Ophthalmology 2021 Volume 27, Number 3 September 3, 2021	Printer Friendly Download PDF

Bryan Strelow, MD, MA \| Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina Michelle Nguyen, BS \| School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina Meredith R. Klifto, MD \| Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

History
A 57-year-old white woman presented to the outpatient glaucoma clinic of the University of North Carolina Health System for a scheduled appointment with a new complaint of worsening headache in the setting of recent sinus infection of 3 weeks’ duration. She had been referred to the glaucoma clinic for mildly elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) as a known primary angle-closure glaucoma suspect (both eyes) after bilateral laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). She had a maternal family history of glaucoma. She denied history of other prior eye disease or surgery, and she denied history of prior eye trauma. Her past medical history was significant for chronic pain, including lumbar radiculopathy, myofascial pain syndrome, and migraine headaches, for which she was followed by pain management specialists. Further history revealed that 6 years earlier, the patient was referred by optometry to an outside glaucoma specialist for concerns of angle closure in the setting of narrow angles. She reported symptoms of periocular headache and photophobia. At that time, records indicated that she had narrow, occludable angles in both eyes with closed presentation on gonioscopy and normal IOPs of 16 mm Hg in each eye. Prophylactic LPI was recommended and performed at that time.

Examination
On examination, the patient was found to have corrected visual acuity of 20/25 in each eye, with mildly elevated and asymmetric IOPs of 20 mm Hg in the right eye and 27 mm Hg in the left eye. Pachymetry revealed slightly above-normal central corneal thickness of 616 μm on the right and 628 μm on the left. Her refraction was slightly hyperopic in both eyes (spherical equivalent +1.75 in the right eye and +2.25 in the left eye). Extraocular motility was full, and pupils were equal, round, and reactive, without relative afferent pupillary defect. Confrontation visual fields were intact. Anterior segment examination was unremarkable, except for nasal peripheral iridotomies, which were patent in both eyes, and trace nuclear sclerotic lenticular changes. Undilated posterior segment examination revealed symmetric cup-to-disc ratios of 0.6 in each eye, with healthy-appearing neuroretinal optic nerve head rims. Gonioscopic examination revealed narrow angles in both eyes, with no structures visible nasally, anterior trabecular meshwork visible temporally, and some posterior trabecular meshwork visible superiorly and inferiorly. Some areas of peripheral anterior synechiae were noted in both eyes during the examination.

Ancillary Testing
Auxiliary testing was then preformed including optical biometry, frequency-doubling technology automated perimetry, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL; Figure 1) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) analysis. These studies were within normal limits. Anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT) demonstrated some lens vaulting and possible plateau iris configuration in both eyes (Figure 2A-B).

Figure 1. The initial visual field (A, B) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). The average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was 85 ?m for the right eye (C) and 77 ?m for the left eye (D). The average cup-to-disc of the optic nerve head for both eyes is 0.62. The axial length and the anterior chamber depth for both eyes was 23.20 mm and 2.82 mm, respectively.

Figure 2. Initial anterior segment OCT imaging of the right eye (A) and left eye (B) showing lens vaulting, narrow angles and some mild plateau iris configuration. Anterior segment OCT imaging of the right eye (C) and left eye (D) 3 days after laser iridoplasty showing mild improvement in plateau iris configuration.

Treatment
The patient was diagnosed with primary angle closure syndrome. In the setting of headaches, elevated IOP, narrow angles with patent LPIs, gonioscopic peripheral anterior synechiae and AS-OCT suggestive of plateau iris configuration, the decision was made to perform argon laser peripheral iridoplasty (ALPI). Three days following ALPI in both eyes, IOP decreased in each eye (left eye, 20 to 17 mm Hg; right eye, 27 to 18 mm Hg), and AS-OCT demonstrated mild improvement in iris configuration (Figure 2C-D). The patient was then scheduled for routine follow-up in 2 months for IOP monitoring. One month later, the patient returned to the outpatient urgent care clinic for worsening headache. Her IOP was within normal limits in each eye, and examination revealed no change suggestive of acute angle closure or other acute ophthalmic disease. She was referred to the Emergency Department for further work-up of her severe headache symptoms. She continued to present emergently for severe headache over the next several months. Computed tomography (CT) of the head with and without contrast revealed no intracranial abnormalities. In addition, CT angiography was normal. Labs, including complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, urine analysis, and urine pregnancy tests were all unremarkable. In the Emergency Department, the patient’s symptoms eventually resolved with intravenous fluids and pain medication, including ketorolac. The patient then returned for delayed ophthalmology follow-up in the glaucoma clinic 7 months after ALPI, when she demonstrated stable IOP in each eye and unchanged examination. The continued headache symptoms were thought to be less likely related to primary angle closure syndrome given the quality of the symptoms and stability of her examination; however, atypical presentation of angle closure was not ruled out. The patient was scheduled for close follow-up at 2 months, with repeat OCT RNFL imaging. In the course of her continued multidisciplinary workup for her headache symptoms, the patient was referred to otorhinolaryngology, where she received a CT scan of the face and neck, which demonstrated calcification of the stylohyoid ligament (Figure 3). Otorhinolaryngology diagnosed the patient with Eagle syndrome and attributed the recurrent periorbital pain and headaches to this phenomenon. They recommended the patient for stylohyoidectomy. The patient then returned to scheduled 2-month glaucoma follow-up, at which point her OCT testing demonstrated progression of inferior and superior RNFL thinning in the left eye in spite of stable IOPs (Figure 4). Her diagnosis was changed from primary angle closure syndrome to primary angle closure glaucoma. Therapeutic options were discussed with the patient, including medical management with topical eyedrops versus surgical management with cataract extraction. In spite of the provider’s preference for a trial of medical therapy, the patient opted to proceed with cataract extraction. As evidenced by the EAGLE Study, which demonstrated the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of clear-lens exchange as primary treatment for primary angle closure glaucoma, cataract extraction with insertion of intraocular lens was performed along with goniosynechiolysis in the left eye, followed after three weeks by the right eye.(1) Shortly following these surgeries, the patient underwent trans-oral styloidectomy. On postoperative week 4 after right eye surgery, IOP was 18 mm Hg in each eye, and the patient reported slight lessening of periocular pain. The patient continues to follow-up every 6 months in the glaucoma clinic, with stable IOPs and visual fields off of pressure-lowering eye drops. Overall, after styloidectomy the patient’s neck and ear pain has resolved, although she continues to report occasional headaches and currently sees Neurology for management.

Figure 3. Computed tomography (sagittal cut) of the head and neck demonstrating elongation of the styloid process characteristic in stylohyoid or Eagle syndrome.

Figure 4. OCT of the RNFL 10 months after initial presentation demonstrating progressive thinning of the nerve fiber layer in the left eye. The average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was 83 ?m for the right eye (A) and 73 ?m for the left eye (B).

Differential Diagnosis
The initial presentation of periocular pain and elevated IOP was suggestive of angle closure. The nonophthalmic differential diagnosis for angle closure symptoms includes trigeminal neuralgia, migraine and other headache syndromes, and temporal arteritis. Due to the continued headaches and stable IOPs and examination, primary angle closure syndrome was thought to be less likely related to her symptoms. As part of a systemic work-up, complex migraine syndrome, trigeminal neuralgia, parotiditis, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and spontaneous intracranial hypotension were considered, and various diagnostic testing and therapeutic trials were attempted.

Diagnosis and Discussion
Eagle syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis for nonophthalmic periocular pain. Although management of this disease is beyond the typical scope of practice for ophthalmology, knowledge of the nonophthalmic differential for angle closure symptoms is important for ophthalmologists. Eagle syndrome, also known as stylohyoid syndrome, was first described by Eagle in 1937 and has since been associated with multiple complications, including carotid compression (presyncope and syncope) and cervicofacial pain.(2-3) The syndrome is characterized by calcification of the stylohyoid ligament or elongation of the styloid process, either by congenital abnormality or acquired (ie, following trauma). The incidence of stylohyoid abnormalities has been reported to be 22%-84%; however, the incidence of associated pain is only 4%-10%. In such cases, anatomic abnormalities are often present bilaterally, yet pain typically presents unilaterally.(4) Eagle syndrome typically presents with vague cervicofacial pain complaints and, as in our case, has been described as mimicking other diseases.(5,6) Intermittent periocular headache is a common and nonspecific clinical symptom. However, in the setting of other ophthalmic findings, such as anatomically narrow angles, gonioscopic synechiae, elevated IOP, or glaucomatous optic neuropathy, this symptom is suggestive of intermittent angle closure. In patients who present with normal IOP during their routine office visits, persistent pain suggestive of angle closure presents a clinical challenge that requires prophylactic treatment or continued workup of alternative etiologies. The ultimate diagnosis of Eagle syndrome in our patient helped to clarify the pathology the patient’s pain and also freed the clinical team from anchoring on angle closure as the primary etiology of the patient’s symptoms. Additionally, our patient did ultimately present with glaucomatous optic neuropathy, and the history of this angle pathology confounded the work-up of her nonspecific pain symptoms, which were at least in part secondary to nonophthalmic disease. To our knowledge, this case is the first report of Eagle syndrome masquerading as intermittent angle closure. Literature Search PubMed was searched on June 22, 2020, for English-language results, using the following terms: Eagle syndrome and glaucoma.

References
1. Azuara-Blanco A, Burr J, Ramsay C, et al; EAGLE study group. Effectiveness of early lens extraction for the treatment of primary angle-closure glaucoma (EAGLE): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2016;388:1389-97. 2. Eagle W. Elongated styloid processes: report of two cases of styloid process-carotid artery syndrome with operation. Arch Otolaryngol 1949;49:490-503. 3. Badhey A, Jategaonkar A, Anglin Kovacs AJ, et al. Eagle syndrome: a comprehensive review. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2017;159:34-8. 4. Correll RW, Jensen JL, Taylor JB, et al. Mineralization of the stylohyoid–stylomandibular ligament complex: a radiographic incidence study. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1979;48:286-91. 5. Cohn JE, Othman S, Sajadi-Ernazarova K. Eagle syndrome masquerading as a chicken bone. Int J Emerg Med 2020;13:1. 6. Cohn JE, Scharf J. Eagle syndrome. J Am Osteopath Assoc 2018;118:629.