Remember the retina: retinal disorders presenting to neurologists

Pract Neurol. 2018 Apr;18(2):84-96. doi: 10.1136/practneurol-2016-001534. Epub 2018 Mar 23.

Abstract

General neurologists and stroke specialists are regularly referred cases of visual disturbance by general practitioners, emergency doctors and even ophthalmologists. Particularly when the referral comes from ophthalmologists, our assessment tends to focus on the optic nerve; however, retinal conditions may mimic optic neuropathy and are easily missed. Their diagnosis requires specific investigations that are rarely available in a neurology clinic. This article focuses on how a general neurologist can identify retinal problems from the clinical assessment and how to proceed with initial investigations. The following cases were all referred to a consultant neurologist (GTP) from ophthalmology services as optic neuropathies or other neurological disorders. Part A of the summary describes the presentation and findings in the neurology clinic; part B describes the subsequent specialist assessment in the neuro-ophthalmology/eye clinic.

Keywords: AZOOR; Optic neuritis; Retinopathy; neuro-ophthalmology,; white dot syndromes.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurologists
  • Neurology
  • Optic Nerve Diseases / diagnosis
  • Retinal Diseases / complications
  • Retinal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Vision Disorders / etiology