TRANSIENT SUDDEN BILATERAL VISUAL LOSS AFTER ORTHOTOPIC HEART TRANSPLANTATION: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Post cardiac surgery ophthalmic complications are uncommon, and sudden visual loss is one of the most important ophthalmic problems in these patients. We report a 54-year-old woman that suffered transient sudden bilateral visual loss seven days after orthotopic heart transplantation. In ophthalmologic examination positive findings were bilateral normal size pupils without direct and indirect pupillary light reflex and bilateral severe diffuse vasospasm of retinal arteries. Other ophthalmologic findings were normal. Problem lasts for 12 hours and resolved spontaneously. Funduscopic examination identified bilateral normal retina at this time and fluorescein angiography revealed normal retinal vasculature. This presentation suggests retinal vasospasm as an unusual benign cause of bilateral sudden visual loss after orthotopic heart transplantation.