Ictal cortical blindness: a case report and review of the literature

Acute cortical blindness as an ictal phenomenon has seldom been reported in the literature. The authors describe a seven-year-old boy who experienced several episodes of complete visual loss, accompanied by gastro-intestinal symptoms and a sensation of fright, but with preservation of consciousness. These episodes ended abruptly with visual recovery and no postictal phenomena. CT brain scan was normal and interictal EEG showed bi-occipital epileptiform activity. This case fits the definition of true ictal blindness. A literature review of seizure-related blindness is presented.