Abstract

Background: Borrelia burgdorferi is the cause of Lyme disease and erythema chronicum migrans . Transmitted through the Ixodes tick. Frequently, the tick bite is not noticed by the patient. Ophthalmologic findings, keratoconjunctivitis, scleritis, chronic uveitis, vitritis, chorioretinitis, optic nerve disease.
Patients and methods: We present the case reports of a 19 years old female manifestation of an ocular Borrelia infection (optic neuritis).
Results: By antibody-screening with the ELISA technique and Western Blot analysis we were able to prove the serological infection. After treatment with corticosteroids and doxycycline for 3 weeks, ocular inflammation improved rapidly, papillitis only healed partially.
Conclusions: Early diagnosis and treatment of an acute Borrelia infection limit the extent of the lesions and prevent late manifestations. We report this case to increase awareness of clinicians to include Lyme disease in differential diagnosis of ON for unexplained cases of ON.