Transient Visual Obscurations Without Papilloedema as the Heralding Symptom of Chiasmal Compression

Niels A Ryden; Helena Lam; Casey Judge; Andrew S Venteicher; Michael S Lee

doi:10.1080/01658107.2022.2127790

Transient Visual Obscurations Without Papilloedema as the Heralding Symptom of Chiasmal Compression

Neuroophthalmology. 2022 Oct 10;47(2):106-109. doi: 10.1080/01658107.2022.2127790. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Niels A Ryden¹, Helena Lam², Casey Judge², Andrew S Venteicher³, Michael S Lee²

Affiliations

¹ University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
² Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
³ Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Abstract

Transient visual obscurations (TVOs) represent brief ischaemic events of the optic nerve. These most commonly occur in the setting of raised intracranial pressure or more localised aetiologies within the orbit that result in decreased perfusion pressure. Transient vision loss has rarely been associated with pituitary tumours or optic chiasm compression, but details are lacking. We describe classic TVOs that completely resolved following resection of a pituitary macroadenoma causing chiasmal compression with a relatively normal eye examination. Clinicians should consider neuro-imaging in patients with TVOs and a normal evaluation.

Keywords: Transient visual obscurations; chiasmal compression; macroadenoma; optic chiasm; pituitary adenoma.

Publication types

Case Reports

Grants and funding

The authors reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.