Transient Cortical Blindness Following Amniotic Fluid Embolism

Postpartum cortical blindness is a rare complication. It may be due to the hypercoagulable state associated with pregnancy, eclampsia, and severe blood loss due to either intra or postpartum hemorrhage. A 42-year-old woman underwent a hysterectomy for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and massive hemorrhage in amniotic fluid during labor. Blindness occurred 8 hours after surgery. Fundus examination was normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed abnormal signals in bilateral ventricles and mild edema of the pituitary gland. After treatment with vitamin B1, mecobalamin, and methylprednisolone, light perception was restored on day 2, and visual acuity returned to normal on day 5. After 2 years of follow-up evaluation, both the patient and the newborn were normal.