Transient homonymous hemianopia and positive visual phenomena in nonketotic hyperglycemic patients.

PURPOSE: To report a case of a transient homonymous hemianopia in a patient with nonketotic hyperglycemia with negative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

DESIGN

Case report.

METHOD: A 72-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus was referred to the neuro-ophthalmology service with hyperglycemia and multiple visual complaints.

RESULTS

The patient was found to have a dense left homonymous hemianopia on examination. An MRI scan of the brain was negative for a lesion affecting the visual pathways. Resolution of the homonymous hemianopia and the patient's symptoms came with normalization of her blood glucose levels.

CONCLUSION

Nonketotic hyperglycemia is an important diagnostic consideration in patients who present with homonymous visual field defects but have negative neuroimaging studies.