Remember the retina: retinal disorders presenting to neurologists.

Zhaleh Khaleeli, William R Tucker, Lana Del Porto, Jonathan D Virgo, Gordon T Plant

Journal: Practical neurology 2018;18(2):84-96

PMID: 29572353

Abstract

General neurologists and stroke specialists are regularly referred cases of visual disturbance by general practitioners, emergency doctors and even ophthalmologists. Particularly when the referral comes from ophthalmologists, our assessment tends to focus on the optic nerve; however, retinal conditions may mimic optic neuropathy and are easily missed. Their diagnosis requires specific investigations that are rarely available in a neurology clinic. This article focuses on how a general neurologist can identify retinal problems from the clinical assessment and how to proceed with initial investigations. The following cases were all referred to a consultant neurologist (GTP) from ophthalmology services as optic neuropathies or other neurological disorders. Part A of the summary describes the presentation and findings in the neurology clinic; part B describes the subsequent specialist assessment in the neuro-ophthalmology/eye clinic.

© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Address: Department of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.; Medical Eye Unit, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.; Department of Neuro-ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK.
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