The Curse of Surya: A Rare Case Report on Retinal Detachment in a Patient of Schizophrenia - Abstract
Abstract Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. Self-harm is a common complication of schizophrenia, and it can take many forms ranging from minor trauma to grievous injuries. This case report highlights the concerning form of self-harm leading to ocular injury, which led to serious complications of retinal detachment. This case report describes a 45-year-old male with paranoid schizophrenia who lost his eyesight due to self-harm leading to retinal detachment. The patient believed in having powers of the sun God Surya which were received by sun rays entering his eyes but later started hearing voices accusing him of being an imposter and cautioning him of punishment by the Gods. The felt that his eyes were the conduit for this connection and started punching himself regularly in both the eyes to break the connection. Gradually, he lost his eyesight due to blunt trauma to his eyes. The psychiatric evaluation revealed delusions of grandiosity, persecution, and reference, along with third- and second-person auditory hallucination, and delusional perception. The patient was initiated on the oral formulation of olanzapine at a dose of 20 mg hiked gradually in 4 weeks and received psychosocial interventions as well. This case report highlights the complexity of self-harm in schizophrenia and the need for a multifaceted approach to address it effectively. Individuals with schizophrenia who engage in self-harm should receive prompt medical attention to address any physical injuries and
prevent long-term complications such as permanent vision loss.