Citation: Case reports in ophthalmological medicine. 2013. Epub 2013 Jun 11.
Author: Grixti A, Kumar V
Abstract: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an ophthalmic emergency which requires early
diagnosis and treatment with high dose systemic corticosteroids in order to
prevent permanent visual loss. However, systemic corticosteroids have
significant ocular side effects including cataract formation, raised intraocular
pressure, and less commonly, central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). We report
a case of visual loss secondary to CSCR complicating corticosteroid therapy in
GCA. When assessing patients with systemic conditions such as GCA or other
vasculitic process, who complain of visual loss which is getting worse on
corticosteroid treatment, clinicians should consider other causes such as CSCR
as part of the differential diagnosis. Extra caution should be exercised in such
cases as increasing the dose of corticosteroids might aggravate CSCR resulting
in further visual loss.
