How bad can vision get in beta-thalassemia? A case report and review of the literature.

Background: Review various causes of optic disc-related decreased vision and present a rare anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) case in a patient with beta-thalassemia.

Methods: A 38-year-old man with a known case of major beta-thalassemia presented with a chief complaint of acute decrease in central and peripheral vision in the right eye. The patient was on deferoxamine and had previous splenectomy surgery. Fundus examination revealed visible vascular obstruction, more prominent superior disc swelling, hyperemia, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) edema in the right eye. After 6 months, the visual acuity improved in the follow-up examination, and the fundus examination revealed subtle right disc pallor.

Conclusions: AION with visible vascular occlusion can be a rare retinal cause of acute decreased vision in beta-thalassemia patients.