Transient homonymous hemianopia and positive visual phenomena in nonketotic hyperglycemic patients

Abstract

Purpose: To report a case of a transient homonymous hemianopia in a patient with nonketotic hyperglycemia with negative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

Design: Case report.

Method: A 72-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus was referred to the neuro-ophthalmology service with hyperglycemia and multiple visual complaints.

Results: The patient was found to have a dense left homonymous hemianopia on examination. An MRI scan of the brain was negative for a lesion affecting the visual pathways. Resolution of the homonymous hemianopia and the patient's symptoms came with normalization of her blood glucose levels.

Conclusion: Nonketotic hyperglycemia is an important diagnostic consideration in patients who present with homonymous visual field defects but have negative neuroimaging studies.