Optic Neuritis Following Hepatitis B Vaccination in a 9-year-old Girl

Hepatitis B vaccination can prevent hepatitis B virus infection and its serious consequences, including liver cancer and cirrhosis. Serious side effects reported after receiving hepatitis B vaccination are very uncommon. A majority of the ophthalmological complications seen following hepatitis B vaccination consist of vision loss, optic neuritis, papillary edema, uveitis, acute placoid pigment epitheliopathy and central vein occlusion. We present a 9-year-old girl who was referred to our hospital with decrease in vision and pain in the left eye a week after hepatitis B vaccination. A diagnosis of vaccine- induced optic neuritis was made. The clinical picture improved after systemic corticosteroid treatment. Acute optic neuritis might be a rare complication of hepatitis B vaccination. Parents should be aware of the potential serious side effects of the vaccine.