Who is really blind in the time of coronavirus: the patient or the doctor? A rare case of Balint’s syndrome

Abstract

Background: Selective bilateral lesions of the parietal–occipital lobes can lead to an uncommon and incompletely understood clinical entity, Balint’ syndrome, which consists of simultanagnosia, oculomotor apraxia, optic ataxia and difficulty in perceiving distances between objects. Case presentation: We herein report a rare presentation of Balint’s syndrome in a 65-year-old woman suffering from stroke and SARS-CoV2 infection. Conclusion: During SARS-CoV2 pandemic, Italian physicians were forced to work with less instrumental diagnostic resources, relying on their clinical knowledge mostly. The aim of this case report is to highlight the importance of performing a precise neurological evaluation, particularly during these challenging times: it might avoid incorrect diagnosis and favour the discovery of rare clinical diseases.