Rickettsial Optic Neuropathy: A Case Report with Review of Literature

A wide variety of infectious agents can cause optic neuropathy with visual impairment of varying severity. Diagnosis is usually made on the basis of clinical suspicion and serological testing. Rickettsioses are uncommonly reported as a cause of infectious optic neuropathy. Treatment involves the use of specific antimicrobial and systemic corticosteroids to suppress the associated inflammatory reaction. Here, we report a case of rickettsial optic neuritis that recovered rapidly on initiation of specific therapy.