Post-COVID Wernicke's presenting as bilateral vision loss

Emily Shepherd; David Smyth; Andrea Sterenstein; Andrew Dorsch; Thomas Mizen

doi:10.1016/j.ajoc.2022.101271

Post-COVID Wernicke's presenting as bilateral vision loss

Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2022 Mar:25:101271. doi: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2022.101271. Epub 2022 Jan 20.

Authors

Emily Shepherd¹, David Smyth¹, Andrea Sterenstein¹, Andrew Dorsch¹, Thomas Mizen¹

Affiliation

¹ Rush University Medical Center, 1725 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL, USA.

Abstract

Purpose: This case report represents poor nutritional intake and vomiting secondary to COVID-19 resulting in Wernicke's syndrome and blindness.

Observations: We report the case of a 36 year old with a post-COVID episode of acute-subacute onset bilateral blindness ultimately diagnosed as Wernicke's syndrome based on MRI findings and clinical response to high dose IV thiamine supplementation.

Conclusions and importance: Given this patient's dramatic presentation of no light perception vision in both eyes and resolution of symptoms with treatment, it is reasonable to consider thiamine deficiency in any individual who presents with acute-subacute onset vision loss, particularly when the history is suggestive of potential nutritional deficiency.

Keywords: COVID-19; Neuro-ophthalmology; Neurology; Nutrition; Optic neuropathy; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

Case Reports