Ischemic optic neuropathy in cavernous sinus thrombosis.

Visual loss is uncommon in thrombosis of the cavernous sinus. A patient observed closely in the acute stages developed high introcular and intraorbital pressures. Although the retinal vasculature remained patent, total unilateral blindness occurred within 48 hours. To our knowledge this is the first documented case in which ischemic optic neuropathy caused blindness in a patient suffering from cavernous sinus thrombosis.