Final answer:
Patients with meningitis can experience vision loss due to swelling around the optic nerve, which is caused by the inflammation associated with meningitis leading to increased pressure and compression of the nerve.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patients with meningitis often present with a variety of neurological symptoms due to inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord. One possible sight issue associated with meningitis is swelling around the optic nerve, which can lead to a loss of vision.
This swelling is caused by the inflammation extending to the optic nerve, resulting in increased intracranial pressure and compression of the nerve, potentially causing a bulge inside the eye that an ophthalmologist may notice during examination. As meningitis progresses, complications can occur affecting various peripheral structures, including the nerves that are routed through the meninges—leading to symptoms such as hearing loss and vision changes.