Bilateral vascular occlusions of the anterior visual pathway and cocaine abuse.
OBJECTIVE
Describe bilateral vision loss from ischemic injury of the anterior visual pathway due to recreational cocaine.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
A 33-year-old man presented to the emergency room with headache associated with multiple cerebral hemispheric lesions on computed tomogram.


RESULTS
During hospital admission, he lost vision from a right central retinal artery occlusion and an ischemic event to the left optic nerve head. Extensive diagnostic evaluation was unrewarding. The patient admitted to persistent cocaine abuse after his 2-month hospitalization.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of cocaine-related vascular occlusion to the anterior visual pathway may not be considered because physicians are unaware of these ocular side effects.
From the *Central Florida Retina Institute, Lakeland; †Departments of Pathology and Ophthalmology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa; ‡the Divisions of Medicine and Surgery, Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Lakeland, Florida; and §Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
Scott M
SM
Friedman
Curtis E
CE
Margo
Mark
M
Konicki
Michael
M
Campanelli
Lee M
LM
Jampol
Oren Z
OZ
Plous