A Rare Cause of Acute Visual Loss: Neuromyelitis Optica

Abstract

Introduction: Noromyelitis optica is an acute demyelination illness that is rarely seen. In this study a patient who came to the emergency service having a complaint of sudden loss of vision is introduced with an account of investigations, Noromyelitis Optica (NMO) was diagnosed.

Case Report: The 38-year-old woman patient sometimes had a complaint of not seeing clearly for a week and applied to our emergency service with the symptom of loss of vision. In the emergency service, we initially carried out cranial computed tomography scanning. There were no pathological results. It was suspected that the patient has optical neuritis, but in her history, there was no reported use of toxical matter or medicine. The results of a cranial magnetic resonance survey revealed some hyperintense lesions (demyelination areas), predominantly on the T2 segment around the optic chiasma and optic nerves.

Conclusion: Thus, even in rare cases, emergency service doctors must take demyelination illnesses such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or NMO into consideration in the differential diagnosis of acute loss of vision.