Ischemic optic neuropathy following lumbar spine surgery. Case report.

This 48-year-old hypertensive man, a cigarette smoker, awoke in the recovery room with visual loss in the right eye after uncomplicated lumbar spine surgery. His intraoperative blood pressure had been maintained at relatively low levels to reduce bleeding; a loss of 1500 cc of blood was reported. Postoperative hemoglobin was 4.2 g/dl less than the preoperative hemoglobin; however, the patient did not receive a blood transfusion. A postoperative ophthalmological examination revealed decreased visual acuity, color vision, and visual field in the right eye. The right optic nerve and retina were initially normal but the patient eventually developed optic nerve atrophy consistent with the clinical diagnosis of ischemic optic neuropathy. Neurosurgeons should be aware that this condition may follow uncomplicated lumbar spine surgery and should obtain prompt ophthalmological consultation when patients develop postoperative visual loss. Aggressive and rapid correction of blood pressure and hematocrit may be helpful in individuals who develop ischemic optic neuropathy after lumbar spine surgery.