Optic Neuritis in a Child With Poorly Controlled Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Report

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes stands among the most prevalent endocrinological diseases in the pediatric age group. The incidence rate continues to rise globally. Optic neuritis has been described in the literature in association with type 2 diabetes; however, cases of optic neuritis with type 1 diabetes are very few. Here we describe a rare case of a 15-year-old patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus presenting with optic neuritis. Due to the hyperglycemia that steroids can induce in some patients, management with steroids can be difficult. A multidisciplinary team approach is required to ensure that these patients' optic neuritis is properly handled while avoiding steroid side effects.

Keywords: diabetes type 1; diabetic eye disease; ophthalmology; optic neuritis; pediatric diabetes.

Figure 1. T2 brain MRI (coronal section) demonstrates enhancement of the pre-chiasmatic segment of the left optic nerve.

Figure 2. Coronal T2W MRI of the brain that was repeated after three weeks after hospital discharge. The optic nerves appeared of normal caliber. There was a stable subtle asymmetrical enhancement of the prechiasmatic segment of the left optic nerve. No other significant enhancement of the optic pathway noted.