Abstract

Self-enucleation is a rare but serious ophthalmological and psychiatric emergency. It has traditionally been considered to be the result of psycho-sexual conflicts, including those arising from Freud's Oedipal complex and Christian religious teaching. However, an analysis of published case reports suggests that self-enucleation is a result of psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia. Early treatment with antipsychotic medication in the case of unilateral or threatened self-enucleation might prevent some cases of blindness.