Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in a patient with optic disc Drusen while on FOLFOX Chemotherapy for colon cancer: the value of Occam’s Razor and Hickam’s dictum

Abstract

A 53-year-old male developed acute diminution of vision in his right eye while on FOLFOX chemotherapy for stage C colon cancer. Examination revealed bilateral optic nerve head swelling with flame shaped hemorrhages over the right optic disc and anomalous left retinal vasculature. Computed tomography scan of the brain and orbit revealed no cerebral pathology, however bilateral optic disc drusen (ODD) was suspected. B scan ultrasonography confirmed the presence of bilateral ODD. Fluorescein angiography showed early hypofluorescence of the right optic disc with bilateral late disc staining and a diagnosis of right anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) with bilateral ODD was made. A literature review was performed and possible mechanisms for the development of AION in this case were discussed.