Clinical Evaluation of Treatment of the Optic Nerve Damage

ABSTRACT

Clinical signs of the optic nerve injury are characterized by absent or diminished light reaction of the pupil on the affected side, a wound in the lateral part of the eyebrow and bleeding from the nose. On X-ray studies, the optic canal fracture can be noticed occasionally. In this study, eleven cases of the optic nerve damage due to a blunt head trauma were studied for 6 to 30 months(average 9 months). Of these, the optic canal fracture was revealed in 5 cases. Among the 5 cases, three cases received surgical decompression of the optic canal through frontotemporal approach with visual improvement in 2 cases(66%). Eight cases were treated by medical therapy with visual improvement in 5 cases(63%). Visual recovery of the optic nerve injury with optic canal fracture(60%, 3/5) was similar to those with no optic canal fracture(66%, 4/6). On the bases of our study, the optic nerve damage should be treated by intensive medical treatment and if the optic canal fracture exists, early surgical intervention should be performed.