Fundus changes in acute malnutritional optic neuropathy.

A peculiar dilation and tortuosity of small retinal vessels within the arcuate areas of the retinal nerve fiber layer occurred in a series of patients with acute malnutritional optic neuropathy ("tobacco-alcohol amblyopia"). These evanescent vascular abnormalities may be caused by arteriovenous shunting. They seem to be specific indicators of the early phase of this disease.