title: Bilateral posterior ischemic optic neuropathy in a patient with severe diabetic ketoacidosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of bilateral posterior ischemic optic neuropathy (PION) in a patient with severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 35-year-old male who suffered bilateral visual loss during a severe episode of DKA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neuro-ophthalmological examination, neuroimaging consisting of a CT scan and MRI of the brain and orbits, as well as a MRA of brain vessels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bilateral PION was diagnosed in a 35-year-old male with no light perception vision, who emerged from a coma caused by severe DKA. The patient developed optic nerve pallor in both eyes 4 weeks after the initial examination. Visual acuity with no light perception in both eyes remained unchanged after 6 months' follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe DKA can be complicated by bilateral PION, resulting in total blindness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky., USA.
authors.forename: Albert E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Smolyar
authors.forename: Pedram
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hamrah