[Three cases of syphilitic optic atrophy--its clinical features and significance]

Three cases of syphilitic optic atrophy were reported. All 3 cases showed progressive deteriorations of visual acuity, and visual field defects associated with central scotoma. Following optic nerve atrophy, two of them developed the signs and symptoms related to spinal cord involvements, which were considered to be early development of tabes dorsalis clinically. After the introduction of penicillin into the therapy of syphilis, especially neurosyphilis, it has been said that this disease is markedly decreased in incidence, and its clinical features are changed. However, there are some reports stating that neurosyphilis might be still prevalent and more atypical forms of neurosyphilis has been encountered. The incidence of syphilitic optic atrophy is still rare, and there is no difference between its' incidence in old and recent reports. From our recent experience and review of the literatures, it is proposed that we should never forget the existence of syphilis in differential diagnosis of optic nerve atrophy.