Optical neuropathy due to inhaled cocaine, causality or chance

A 44-year-old man, active cocaine consumer, who referred decrease in visual acuity in the right eye in 24 hours of evolution, being 0,05 in that eye and 1 in the left eye. The examination showed a relative afferent pupil defect and a swelling head of optic nerve. The systemic studies performed were normal, except the nuclear magnetic resonance of the brain that showed a thickening of the maxillary and frontal sinus mucosa, compatible with sinusitis. Hospital admission and the start of intravenous corticosteroid treatment were decided, with a favourable evolution, a visual acuity of 1.0 in both eyes and an anatomical improvement of the optic nerve head. Due to the medical history of the patient and the assessment of other plausible alternative diagnoses, we established the diagnosis of optical neuropathy due to inhaled cocaine abuse.