Influenza Retinitis: Association with Influenza Encephalitis

<abstitle>Abstract</abstitle>Purpose: To report an unusual case of retinitis caused by influenza virus. Case: A 30-year-old male claimed partial color blindness after recovery from influenza encephalitis. Visual acuity was 0.3 in the right eye and 0.03 in the left. An ophthalmoscopic fundus examination looked normal, but fluorescein angiography revealed granular hyperfluorescence with multiple dark circular lesions at the posterior pole of both eyes. Serological testing revealed an influenza A virus infection. With corticosteroid pulse therapy (3 days) followed by oral methyl prednisolone for 1 month, visual acuity gradually recovered. Over the following 2-year period, visual acuity has recovered to 1.2 in both eyes, but color sensation still remains impaired. Conclusions: Influenza encephalitis can cause visual loss due to retinitis at the posterior pole.Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel