title: Hemeralopia in an older adult.
abstract: An elderly male was referred for evaluation of hemeralopia when cataract extraction did not alleviate his symptom of difficulty seeing in bright illumination. Visual acuity was 20/40 OU. Funduscopic examination revealed marked arteriolar attenuation, disc pallor, and retinal pigment epithelial changes. Visual fields demonstrated relative paracentral scotomata. An ERG was consistent with widespread photoreceptor degeneration. A diagnosis of visual paraneoplastic syndrome was made and an extensive systemic evaluation revealed a squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. The presentation and evaluation of acquired photoreceptor dysfunction in adulthood is discussed.
authors: Duke University Eye Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Gehrs
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Tiedeman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003623:Dark Adaptation; D004596:Electroretinography; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields