2014 Volume 31 Issue 1 Pages 45-51
We report a case of orbital myositis combined with optic neuropathy. A 65-year old woman complained of lid swelling and visual disturbances in her right eye. Corrected vision in this eye was 0.6 and the critical flicker fusion frequency was slightly decreased. MRI showed swelling and inflammation of the right medial and superior rectus muscles and of the superior oblique muscle. The medial rectus muscle pressed against the optic nerve, and there was inflammation around the optic nerve. Based on these findings, we diagnosed the patient with orbital myositis combined with optic neuropathy. Methylprednisolone of 80 mg per day was given and the dose was then gradually reduced. Methylprednisolone of 10 mg per day was given for about four months. Vision in the right eye improved immediately, and the swelling of the right extraocular muscles decreased at two weeks compared with that before medication. Optical neuropathy may have occurred by the mechanical compression due to the swelling orbital muscles and the inflammatory involvement from these muscles.
