Visual Loss Secondary to Bioccipital Calcifications Associated with Coeliac Disease

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper was to present a case report of permanent visual loss secondary to occipital lobe calcifications in coeliac disease. A 58-year-old grave digger was referred by his work place occupational health and safety department for vision assessment. His past medical history included coeliac disease (CD) diagnosed 20 years previously, as well as an over 40-year history of poor vision that had not been investigated. Examination showed bilaterally decreased visual acuity of <6/60 and a right homonymous inferior quadrantanopia confirmed on automated perimetry. The optic discs appeared normal with no pallor or neuroretinal rim loss. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans revealed bilateral occipital calcifications. Diffusion tensor imaging showed reduced anisotropy and difficulty tracing the optic radiations to the occipital lobes. This is the first described case of visual loss secondary to occipital lobe calcifications in coeliac disease.

• Calcification
• coeliac
• occipital
• visual loss

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This paper was presented at Neuro-Ophthalmology Society of Australia Annual Meeting in Christchurch on 2 September 2010.

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