DR. UDBUDDHA DUTTA

Abstract

Radiation induced optic neuropathy is a devastating late complication of radiotherapy resulting in profound irreversible visual loss.We describe a case of a 47 year old female who presented with a progressive visual loss in the right eye since the last 6 months.She had been operated for a brain tumour 25 years back and had also undergone 2 rounds of radiotherapy.Her vision had dropped from a best corrected vision of 6/6 to hand movements close to face in the right eye.Fundus examination revealed a pale disc in the right eye.A 30-2 Humphrey visual field test revealed superotemporal defects in the otherwise normal left eye.She was evaluated for atypical optic neuritis and a MRI Brain and Orbit with contrast was done to look for any new chiasmal lesion.An oncologist opinion was sought and the patient was advised a trial of intravenous steroids followed by a tapering course of oral steroids.Keywords: radiotherapy, optic neuritis