Optic nerve macroaneurysms as the initial presentation of idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis

• Published in: Retinal cases & brief reports Vol. 2; no. 1; p. 41
• Main Authors: Laud, Ketan, El-Haig, Wael, Yannuzzi, Lawrence A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 2008
• ISSN: 1935-1089
• DOI: 10.1097/01.ICB.0000258960.61050.42

To report a case of idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and retinitis (IRVAN) with macroaneurysms confined to the optic disk. A patient with IRVAN was examined with biomicroscopy and fluorescein angiography. IRVAN typically presents with macroaneurysms along the first- and second-order arterioles. Our patient presented with peripapillary lipid exudation and macroaneurysms limited to the optic nerve. The macroaneurysms were best appreciated with fluorescein angiography. This case represents an atypical presentation of a rare but well documented retinal vascular disorder. It is important to recognize the earliest possible manifestations of IRVAN to establish an accurate diagnosis because it may be mistaken for a wide array of retinal vascular and optic nerve disorders.