An atypical presentation of visual conversion disorder

• Main Author: Brian K. Foutch
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2015-10-01
• Series: Journal of Optometry
• Subjects: Nonorganic vision loss; Visual conversion disorder; Vision loss; Malingering
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1888429615000072

Nonorganic vision loss accounts for up to 5% of patients and presents in two forms, malingering and visual conversion disorder (VCD). It is described a case of VCD in a new mother struggling both with her husband being deployed overseas and the recent death of her father. In addition, she had been evaluated for a concussion secondary to a motor vehicle accident three months prior. An inexpensive series of clinical tests were performed to rule out organic disease and obtained equivocal results. Some tests revealed intact vision in the affected eye while others supported a neurological cause for the vision loss. However, the patient quickly recovered normal visual acuity when encouraged to discuss situations that have been causing emotional stress. This almost immediate recovery of vision confirmed the diagnosis of VCD. This report should make primary eye care professionals more aware of visual conversion disorder and its clinical evaluation.