Spontaneous visual acuity increase in a case of vitreopapillary traction syndrome

A 63-year-old woman was referred with a 5-day history of sudden painless visual loss in the right eye. Referral diagnosis was nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Visual acuity of the eye was counting fingers from 50 centimeter. Light reflexes were normal bilaterally. Right eye anterior segment biomicroscopy was unremarkable except minimal posterior subcapsular cataract. Fundus examination of the right eye revealed edematous, elevated optic disc. Left eye fundus examination was normal. The patient was diagnosed as vitreopapillary traction syndrome and followed without any surgical intervention. After a 2-month period, spontaneous separation of the hyaloid membrane causing tractional force has occurred. Optic disc edema disappeared and visual acuity improved to 0.5. Vitreopapillary traction syndrome is a rare condition but should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of swollen disc with visual loss.