Sudden blindness due to bilateral optic neuropathy associated with cryptococcal meningitis in an AIDS patient

Background: Cryptococcosis is one of the most frequent and severe AIDS defining illnesses. Aims: We present a patient with advanced HIV/AIDS disease and a diffuse meningoencephalitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans. The patient developed an acute and bilateral blindness associated with high cerebrospinal fluid pressure and optic neuropathy. Methods: Post-mortem anatomopathologic study revealed a high number of Cryptococcus in the central nervous system, including the optic nerves and the optic chiasm. Conclusion: The patient’s sudden visual loss appeared to be related to the perineuritic arachnoiditis and the massive invasion of the optic nerves by the fungus.