Original Research

Benign intracranial hypertension diagnosed with bilateral papilloedema

K. C. Phillips, P. C. Clarke-Farr
African Vision and Eye Health | South African Optometrist: Vol 72, No 2 | a49 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/aveh.v72i2.49 | © 2013 K. C. Phillips, P. C. Clarke-Farr | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 04 December 2013 | Published: 08 December 2013

About the author(s)

K. C. Phillips, BA(Hons) (Stell) FBDO (CL) (UK) MCOptom (UK) MOptom (UKZN)
P. C. Clarke-Farr, MOptom (UKZN) PhD (UFS), South Africa

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Abstract

This article presents a case of benign intracranial hypertension (BIH) diagnosed from the presence of papilloedema. This potentially sight-threatening condition particularly affects younger obese females and can be idiopathic, caused by adverse reaction to certain prescription medications or by systemic disease. Prompt treatment is essentialto avoid optic atrophy and low energy diet and exercise forms part of long-term treatment to avoid relapse. Optometrists can play a critical primary health care role in the detection of papilloedema and referring appropriately.


Keywords

Benign intracranial hypertension; papilloedema; obesity; headache

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