Endoscopic optic nerve decompression for the treatment of traumatic optic nerve neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the efficacy of endoscopic optic nerve decompression in patients with traumatic optic neuropathy.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 46 patients with traumatic optic neuropathy in the Shanghai Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital between March 2002 and September 2005. All patients were first treated with methylprednisolone for 6 days. Forty-four patients (46 eyes) that did not improve with methylprednisolone treatment were offered endoscopic optic nerve decompression.

RESULTS

In 38 eyes with no light perception vision preoperatively, 21 eyes (45.6%) had improvement in visual acuity. These patients had postoperative light perception in 17 eyes, hand movement in 3 eyes and 60/200 in 1 eye. Four of 5 eyes with light perception preoperatively had postoperative vision for hand movement in 2 eyes, finger counting in 1 eye and 20/200 in 1 eye. For 3 eyes with preoperative visual acuity of hand movement, the postoperative visual acuities were 60/200, 60/200 and 120/200. Neither worsening of vision nor major complications was encountered in our series.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that endoscopic optic nerve decompression in experienced surgeons' hands can improve visual acuity in traumatic optic nerve neuropathy with minimal morbidity. Our results also demonstrate that even patients initially without light perception may benefit from optic nerve decompression.