Treatment Outcomes of Ocular Manifestations in Wernicke's Encephalopathy: Case Report

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Identifier sambhariya-treatment-outcomes-of-ocular-manifestations-in-wernickes-encephalopathy-case-report
Title Treatment Outcomes of Ocular Manifestations in Wernicke's Encephalopathy: Case Report
Creator Whitney Stuard Sambhariya, PhD, Medical Student; Melanie Truong-Le, DO, OD
Affiliation (WSS) Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical School, UT Southwestern Medical Center; (MT) Professor of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical School, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Subject Wernicke's Encephalopathy; Ocular Manifestations; Neuro-ophthalmology; Abducens Palsy; Nystagmus; Double Vision; Blurry Vision
Description The case of a 28- year-old woman with a past medical history of gastric sleeve who was reported to have blurry vision and presented to neuro-ophthalmology with double vision. On examination the patient had bilateral abducens palsy, alternating upbeat and downbeat nystagmus with a torsional component, and impaired visual acuity. The patient was admitted to the hospital and treated with thiamine IV for eight days. At a six-month follow-up, her ophthalmic symptoms had largely resolved. This case highlights the presence of ophthalmic symptoms presenting prior to other manifestations of disease and the importance of early identification to prevent progression and hospitalization. (Associated Images: https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=2285125) (Associated Video: https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=2285126)
Date 2023-05
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