Postpartum amaurosis in a woman with severe preeclampsia

Abstract

The maternal and perinatal fetal prognosis of preeclampsia depends on the gestational age of the fetus at onset, the severity of the disease, the quality of care, and the presence of pre-existent medical conditions. One of the uncommon effects of severe preeclampsia on the eye is sudden loss of vision. The present case report is of a woman with severe preeclampsia exacerbated by delivery that coursed with difficult-to-control arterial hypertension and reversible cortical amaurosis without impaired consciousness or seizures.

Serious Visual (Ocular) Complications in Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia

“…During the study period, only CT scan imaging was available and was reported as normal in three cases; 13 cases showed hypodense areas in the occipito-parietal region. MRI and CT scan imaging studies have shown that cortical blindness results from vasogenic (hydrostatic) cerebral oedema and not due to cerebral vasospasm [1,10]. Other than effective treatment of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia and termination of pregnancy, no specific therapy is indicated in pre-eclamptic women who experience ocular changes.…”

Ophthalmic Disorders in Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Associated with Preeclampsia

“…Visual disorders in pregnancy can be highly variable and range from mild symptoms such as transient blurred vision, photopsia, and different types of visual field defects to transient or permanent total blindness [24]. Vision loss during pregnancy has been documented in 1-3% of cases and a possible causes are cortical blindness, central retinal artery and vein occlusions, retinal detachment, ischemic optic neuropathy, retinal or vitreous hemorrhages, and Purtscher's retinopathy [24][25][26]. Approximately 25% patients with severe preeclampsia and 50% patients with eclampsia present different visual symptoms including blurred vision, homonymous hemianopsia, visual neglect, visual anosognosia, and cortical blindness [27,28].…”