Reversible blindness secondary to severe diabetic ketoacidosis

• Main Authors: H, O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh 2018-11-01
• Series: The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
• Subjects: diabetic ketoacidosis; reversible blindness
• Online Access: https://www.rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/files/jrcpe_48_4_oun.pdf

We present a case of sudden-onset reversible blindness secondary to severe diabetic ketoacidosis. The exact mechanism is not fully understood but is postulated to be due to uncoupling of retinal electrical transmission in a severe acidic environment. This report adds to the small number of reported cases of reversible blindness secondary to severe diabetic ketoacidosis and serves to raise awareness of this unusual diagnosis. It should be considered in patients who present with acute-onset reversible bilateral blindness only after other causes are excluded via detailed retinal examination and cranial imaging.