Bilateral anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy in a child on continuous peritoneal dialysis: Case report and literature review

Non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a serious complication of continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD) which can lead to poor vision and blindness. We report a five-year-old girl who had undergone a bilateral nephrectomy at the age of one year and was on home CPD. She was referred to the Paediatric Ophthalmology Unit of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, in 2013 with acute bilateral vision loss, preceded by a three-day history of poor oral intake. At presentation, the patient had severe systemic hypotension. An ophthalmological examination revealed severe bilateral visual impairment and NAION. She was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone and normal saline boluses. At a five-month follow-up, the visual acuity of the right eye had improved but vision in the left eye remained the same. Acute bilateral blindness due to NAION while on CPD is a rare condition in childhood. Paediatricians should be aware of this complication in order to ensure prompt management.