Non-organic Vision Loss in the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts

ABSTRACT

Non-organic visual loss (NOVL), defined as a decrease in visual acuity or field without an identifiable organic cause, can be challenging to diagnose, especially in patients whose NOVL is superimposed on some component of true organic pathology. Exposure to combat puts soldiers at risk of emotional distress and physical trauma, which can contribute to the development of NOVL with conversion disorder or malingering. This case series describes six patients with NOVL who sustained ocular or non-ocular injuries while serving in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and highlights diagnostic pearls and components of inter-disciplinary management in the unique military context.

KEYWORDS:

• Functional visual loss
• malingering
• non-organic visual loss

Acknowledgements

Portions of this material were presented at the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS) 42nd Annual Meeting, February 27 to March 3, 2016, in Tucson, Arizona, USA (Poster 88).

Disclaimer: The opinions in this article are solely those of the authors and do not represent the views or official policies of the United States Army, Navy, or Department of Defense.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.