A rare case report on ethambutol induced optic neuritis

Abstract

Ethambutol (EMB) is one of the first-line drugs in the treatment of tuberculosis. EMB induced ocular toxicity is a rare side-effect that observed as either dose or duration related effect and reversible on therapy discontinuation. We report a rare case of EMB-induced optic neuritis, even though the dose and duration are not related to it. After withdrawal of the drug, we observed there is a recovery and mapping of the central visual field showed only slight enlargement of the blind spot in the right eye. If there is no vision improvement, but ocular toxicity is not severe, isoniazid should also be stopped.