Reversible visual loss following optic nerve injury.

A case of shrapnel injury to the optic nerve documented by computed tomography, resulting in total, but partially reversible visual loss, is presented. In view of the visual field defect and computed tomographic findings, a transient vascular insult is incriminated. The irreversible loss in the lower field of vision is related to the shearing effect of trauma on the vulnerable pial vessels supplying the upper half of the nerve.