Traumatic Optic Neuropathy
Classically divided into:
- Direct injury: external object penetrates the tissues and impacts the optic nerve.
- Indirect injury: collision to the skull and the energy is absorbed by the optic nerve.
Usually associated with mid-face trauma
Traumatic Optic Neuropathy
Causes:
- Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA), most common cause.
- Falls
- Assault
Symptomatology:
- History of trauma
- Loss of vision after the trauma
- Commonly associated with loss of consciousness.
Signs:
- Vision: is often significantly reduced.
- Afferent pupillary defect
- Associated ocular injury.
Fundoscopy:
- Acutely the optic nerve appears normal.
- Weeks later, optic nerve pallor develops.
- Vitreous hemorrhage
- Retinal hemorrhage