Psychogenic blindness as a rare cause of presumed vision loss

Abstract

A 12-year-old girl presented with unilateral, sudden painless loss of vision for the past 2 days. Ocular examination was normal. Optical coherence tomography, visually evoked potential, and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and orbits were normal. With no organic cause found for vision loss, psychiatrist opinion was sought. After evaluation, she was diagnosed to have psychogenic blindness and treated with psychotherapy. When findings are inconsistent and no organic etiology can be diagnosed for the vision loss, psychogenic blindness is suspected and prompt referral to a psychiatrist is essential for complete recovery.

Keywords

• malingering
• nonorganic vision loss
• psychogenic blindness
• sudden loss of vision