Acute transient ophthalmomalacia in giant-cell arteritis. Report of a case

Transient bilateral corneal oedema due to ocular hypotension is reported in giant-cell arteritis. The greatly impaired visual acuity gradually returned to normal on steroid medication. A visual field defect remained in the left eye. The diagnosis of giant-cell arteritis was confirmed by arterial biopsy. The disease involved the pericranial arteries as well as the ophthalmic artery on both sides, probably also the long ciliary arteries, which might explain the ophthalmomalacia. Apparently, only six cases are on record.