Don’t Disrespect Diamox

Formerly known as benign intracranial hypertension, uncontrolled idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a far from gentle condition that occurs mostly in women and is linked to obesity. The headaches, tinnitus and vomiting are unpleasant enough but the ocular symptoms are most serious. Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients often compresses the sixth cranial nerve, resulting in problems with abduction (looking away the from midline) of the eye and double vision. Swelling of the optic disc (papilledema) can occur (Figure 1), causing transient vision obscuration which, if left untreated, can result in progressive and permanent vision loss.