A 48-Year-Old Caucasian Man With Unilateral “Smudge” in Inferior Visual Field

Abstract

Purpose: To report an increasingly prevalent fundoscopic manifestation of syphilitic uveitis. Methods: Case report of a patient with acute retinal necrosis secondary to syphilis. Results: A 48-year-old man presented with decreased vision, anterior segment inflammation, and a wedge-shaped retinal lesion in the superior periphery, with a diaphanous leading edge extending down toward the superior arcade. The patient was HIV+ and poorly compliant with therapy. The top three differential diagnoses were herpetic necrotizing retinitis, syphilis, and lymphoma. An extensive lab workup was positive for syphilis. The patient was treated with IV penicillin G and demonstrated improvement in visual acuity and examination.Conclusion: There have been an increasing number of reports of syphilis patients, especially in the population of men who have sex with men, who present with fundus findings similar to acute retinal necrosis. These findings include a characteristic ground glass, translucent appearance of unifocal or multifocal lesions, primarily affecting the inner retina and sometimes associated with co-localizing occlusive vasculitis. Treatment with IV penicillin G is warranted and has demonstrated good visual recovery.