Alcohol Endotheliitis: A Report of a Rare Case

Cureus. 2024 Jun 21;16(6):e62822. doi: 10.7759/cureus.62822. eCollection 2024 Jun.

Abstract

Sudden transient loss of vision after an acute bout of alcohol consumption in patients with chronic alcoholism is rare. The underlying mechanism is a transient depression of the endothelial pump due to ethanol toxicity following a large amount of alcohol consumption in chronic alcoholic patients. Here, we report a rare case of a 60-year-old male patient who came to the outpatient department with complaints of sudden loss of vision associated with redness following a large amount of alcohol consumption. The case was managed by prompt diagnosis and topical and oral corticosteroid therapy. This is a rare case of acute toxic endotheliitis due to ethanol toxicity with only a few cases reported in the past.

Keywords: alcohol; corneal edema; endothelial pump; topical steroids; toxic endothelitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports