Optic Neuropathy from Vitamin B12 Deficiency Associated With Alcoholism and Malnutrition.

Lee, Jong Rak; Kim, Yeon Deok; Choi, Jin Young; Choi, Jaewan

doi:2009.50.6.963

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > Volume 50(6); 2009 > Article

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2009;50(6):963-967.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2009.50.6.963 Published online June 15, 2009.

Optic Neuropathy from Vitamin B12 Deficiency Associated With Alcoholism and Malnutrition.

Jong Rak Lee, Yeon Deok Kim, Jin Young Choi, Jaewan Choi

Department of Ophthalmology, HanGil Eye Hospital, Incheon, Korea. deskshot@naver.com

알코올 중독 및 영양 섭취 부족과 관련하여 발생한 비타민 B12 결핍에 의한 시신경 병증 1예

이종락ㆍ김연덕ㆍ최진영ㆍ최재완

Department of Ophthalmology, HanGil Eye Hospital, Incheon, Korea

Abstract

PURPOSE
To report a case of optic neuropathy from vitamin B12 deficiency associated with chronic alcoholism and malnutrition. CASE SUMMARY: A 51-year-old man with a complaint of declining visual acuity in both eyes without pain was found to have a temporal optic disc pallor in the left eye. The patient had a history of chronic alcoholism and malnutrition for the previous 7 months. Visual field examination showed central scotoma in both eyes. The vitamin B12 level was undetectable by a blood biochemistry test. Blood dyscrasia such as anemia or thrombocytopenia was not found. The vitamin B12 level became normal after intramuscular cobalamin injections, and visual acuity and visual field tests recovered after 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Optic neuropathy from vitamin B12 deficiency can be solely present without other systemic manifestations in a patient with chronic alcoholism and malnutrition. Prompt diagnosis by thorough history taking and vitamin B12 supplementation can reverse the disease.

Key Words: Alcoholism;Malnutrition;Optic neuropathy;Vitamin B12 deficiency