Cortical blindness caused by hypoxemia following an asthma attack

Excerpt

Cortical blindness is a clinical syndrome characterized by loss of vision, normal pupillary reflexes, and normal funduscopic examination [1]. Cerebrovascular disease and surgery, particularly cardiac surgery and cerebral angiography, are the major causes of cortical blindness [2]. A small number of cases of cortical blindness after asthmatic attack have been reported [1, 3]. We report a case of severe cortical blindness due to hypoxemia after an asthma attack. The diagnosis was delayed because all images in the early phase appeared normal. Repeated examinations using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and brain single photon emission CT (SPECT) were useful for diagnosis since abnormal image findings were not found until late after onset. …