Relapsing Polychondritis Causing Inflammatory Optic Neuropathy, a Case Report (.pdf)

Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) is a severe, episodic, and progressive systemic inflammatory condition involving cartilaginous structures of the eyes, ears, nose, and laryngotracheobronchial tree. It is potentially fatal disease, that often goes misdiagnosed and mismanaged, that can cause wide-spread systemic manifestations including irreversible vision loss. Our goal is to elucidate this rare condition as it relates to the ophthalmic care of patients and provide a clinic vignette illustrating the clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of a patient with RP.