Bilateral posterior ischemic optic neuropathy after spinal surgery

PURPOSE: To report the association between bilateral posterior ischemic optic neuropathy and spinal surgery. METHOD: Case report. RESULTS: After prone position spinal surgery of 8 hours' duration, a 68 year old woman was completely blind in both eyes. Moderate periorbital edema and temporal conjunctival chemosis were present bilaterally. Ophthalmic examination disclosed normal-appearing optic nerve heads, except for bilateral nasal fullness related to bilateral optic nerve drusen, and no retinal edema. Immediate cerebral arteriography, magnetic resonance imaging, and electroretinography were normal. Visual-evoked response was not detectable, and 7 weeks later, severe bilateral optic nerve head pallor developed. CONCLUSIONS: Severe selective hypoperfusion of the re trobulbar optic nerves may occur after spinal surgery. Pressure to the periorbital region may be a contributing factor. (C) 1999 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.