Seeing the difference-Painless progressive vision loss in a vasculopath

Surv Ophthalmol. 2019 Jan-Feb;64(1):123-131. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2017.09.001. Epub 2017 Sep 18.

Abstract

A 78-year-old Caucasian man with significant vascular disease reported sudden onset of worsened vision during a routine wound-care appointment for nonhealing necrotic leg ulcers. He described painless blurring of vision with grey scotomas in his right eye, his only well-seeing eye, after trauma to the left eye as a child. He presented with retinal ischemia, a cotton wool spot, and optic nerve swelling. Temporal artery biopsy showed myxoid degeneration and extensive calcium deposition, which also was present on imaging throughout his carotid and vertebral arterial system-the clinical picture of calciphylaxis.

Keywords: calciphylaxis; ischemic optic neuropathy; painless vision loss; retinal ischemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Blindness / diagnosis
  • Blindness / etiology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / complications*
  • Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / diagnosis
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease / complications*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed