ABSTRACT
A randomized, double blind study was carried out to compare the efficacy of dexamethasone and methylprednisolone in the treatment of indirect traumatic optic neuropathy. Twenty-one patients, 20 male and 1 female, were diagnosed as having suffered from indirect traumatic optic neuropathy. The time from injury to treatment was within 7 days. The average age was 26.38 +/- 11.89 years. The most common cause of injury was motor vehicle accident (MVA). Associated head and maxillofacial injury were reported 43.48 and 34.78 per cent, respectively. Before treatment, no light perception was detected in 19.05 per cent of the participants. Treatments were randomized: ten patients received dexamethasone intravenously for 72 hours and 11 methylprednisolone. The best corrected visual acuities (BCVA) were determined using the Snellen Chart before and 1, 2, 3, 7, 14 and 60 days after treatment. Three or more lines of improvement of the BCVA, were found in 70 and 67 per cent of patients treated with dexamethasone, and 45.45 and 33.33 per cent of patients treated with methylprednisolone, at 2 weeks and 2 months, respectively. There were no significant differences in age, cause of injury, injury to treatment interval, initial BCVA and visual improvement between the two groups.