Optic Atrophy After Ocular Contusion

Abstract

Case 1—A 10-year-old black boy was struck in the left eye with a rock. Two days later the visual acuity in that eye had decreased to light perception without projection. The eyelids and the globe were intact. A small hyphema was present, the intraocu­ lar pressure was 53 mm Hg, and the cornea was edematous. The left optic disk appeared normal with spontaneous venous pulsations. Roentgenograms of the orbit and optic foramen were normal. He was treated with absolute bedrest, sedation, top­ ical corticosteroids, and dichlorphenamide (Daranide). Seven days after the injury, the intraocular pressure was 7 mm Hg, the hyphema had cleared, and the fundus showed early pallor of the optic disk with slight dilatation of the retinal veins. Definite optic atrophy with a vision of counting fingers at one foot was present one month after the injury.