OPTIC DISC INVOLVEMENT IN HYPOCALCEMIA WITH HYPOPARATHYROIDISM - PAPILLEDEMA OR OPTIC NEUROPATHY

Swelling of the optic disc is a recognised feature of hypocalcaemia, p articularly associated with primary and surgically induced hypoparathy roidism. We report a patient with hypocalcaemia following parathyroide ctomy who presented with bilateral optic disc swelling followed by vis ual loss in the left eye and optic atrophy. In some patients with hypo calcaemic disc swelling, the clinical features resemble those of papil loedema without significant visual loss, while in others loss of acuit y and field are characteristic of optic neuropathy.