Optic neuritis presenting with amaurosis fugax

Abstract

Optic neuritis usually presents with rapid and gradual loss of vision that is either complete or incomplete, and typically associated with retro-orbital pain. To our knowledge there have been no documented reports of optic neuritis presenting with multiple episodes of amaurosis fugax, the sudden and transient loss of vision lasting seconds to minutes. We report here the case of a young woman with a possible diagnosis of demyelinating left optic neuritis that presented solely with multiple episodes of brief and transient sudden loss of vision. Ophthalmological exams were normal between episodes of vision loss. The patient's magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a subtle enhancement of the left optic nerve along with multiple periventricular lesions, highly suggestive of a demyelinating disease. The frequent episodes of visual loss resolved completely with high dose parenteral steroids. Neurologists and other clinicians should be aware of this unusual presentation of optic neuritis as treatment modalities differ greatly from other causes of amaurosis fugax.