Acute Bilateral Blindness in the Setting of Sudden Onset of Bilateral Proptosis and Ophthalmoplegia: A Case Report With Literature Review.
Neurol Clin Pract 2021;
11:e706-e713. [PMID:
34840887 PMCID:
PMC8610505 DOI:
10.1212/cpj.0000000000001090]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Acute bilateral blindness has an extensive differential diagnosis that requires a careful history and physical examination to narrow down. In this article, we discuss the pathophysiology and radiographic findings of each possible diagnosis for acute bilateral blindness.
RECENT FINDINGS
Visual pathology with respect to bilateral blindness can be broadly broken down into 3 anatomic categories: media (i.e., the anterior and posterior chamber of the eye), retina, and neural visual pathway. Possible causes of rapid onset bilateral blindness include bilateral occipital infarcts, endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis, orbital cellulitis, orbital compartment syndrome, cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis, thyroid disease, and bilateral nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy.
SUMMARY
In this case, we present a patient with acute onset of bilateral blindness, in addition to bilateral ophthalmoplegia, proptosis, and orbital chemosis. We believe that this rare case of acute bilateral blindness is thought provoking and aids in the understanding of the differential diagnosis and underlying pathophysiology of visual loss.
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