Optic Neuropathy Caused by a Perineural Sarcoid Lesion

A 74-year-old woman had a six-month history of decreased vision in the left eye. On the first examination, her left best-corrected visual acuity was 0.02, and Goldmann visual field test revealed a central scotoma in the left eye. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated lesions around the optic nerve on both sides and enlargement of the lacrimal gland and superior rectus/levator palpebrae superioris muscles on both sides and the medial and inferior recti muscles on the left side. Systemic computed tomography revealed bilaterally enlarged mediastinal and supraclavicular lymph nodes. The blood test results included an elevated soluble interleukin-2 receptor. Pathological examination of the specimens harvested from the lacrimal gland on both sides, left levator palpebrae superioris muscle, and the lesion around the optic nerve on the left side showed lymphocytic infiltration with noncaseating epithelioid granuloma. After the biopsy, the patient underwent two cycles of steroid pulse therapy, followed by oral prednisolone. Although the lesions were reduced after steroid treatment, the left vision did not recover.