Case Report

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension with Severe Asymmetric Visual Loss: A Case Report

Abstract

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a syndrome of raised intracranial pressure without an identifiable cause, typically affecting young obese women and presenting with headache and papilledema. Atypical presentations in older males with marked asymmetric visual loss are rare and may delay diagnosis. We report a 60-year-old male with a twomonth history of progressive visual diminution, more pronounced in the left eye. Ocular examination revealed reduced visual acuity with bilateral blurred optic disc margins, while visual fields were normal. Optical coherence tomography demonstrated increased retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and MRI brain showed tortuous optic nerves, partially empty sella, and enlargement of Meckel’s cave, supporting the diagnosis of IIH. Despite the unusual demographic profile and asymmetric severity of visual impairment, clinical and radiological findings were consistent with IIH. This case highlights the importance of considering IIH in older males with unexplained optic disc edema to enable timely diagnosis and prevent irreversible visual loss.

Authors affiliation:

Kundhan Kumar Pasam (ORCID): Post Graduate, Department of Ophthalmology, Sri Siddharatha Medical Colledge, Sri Siddharatha Academy of Higher Education, Tumkur, Karnataka, India
Jayashree S Shah (ORCID): Professor and Hod of Department of Ophthalmology, Sri Siddharatha Medical Colledge, Sri Siddharatha Academy of Higher Education, Tumkur, Karnataka, India
Lokesh HM (ORCID): Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Sri Siddharatha Medical Colledge, Sri Siddharatha Academy of Higher Education, Tumkur, Karnataka, India.
Niveditha RK (ORCID): Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Sri Siddharatha Medical Colledge, Sri Siddharatha Academy of Higher Education, Tumkur, Karnataka, India.

How to Cite: K.K. Pasam, J.S. Shah, H.M. Lokesh and R.K. Niveditha. Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension with Severe Asymmetric Visual Loss: A Case Report. Journal of Applied Health Sciences and Medicine, 6(8):6–9, 2026. https://doi.org/10.58614/jahsm682