A Case with Traumatic Optic Neurpathy: When, What to Do?

Traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) is characterized by impaired visual function due to acute damage to the optic nerve injury related to the trauma. The predictive incidence of TON in children and adolescence is 0.7-2.5% after blunt or penetrating head injuries. Orbital trauma is often accompanied by head injury and is the most common cause of unilateral vision loss. Here, we present a case of 11-year-old child who had the complaint of vision loss in the right eye and developed TON after a motor vehicle accident. The intubated patient was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit after trauma and was operated due to epidural hemorrhage. Visual loss was detected during follow-up and orbital computed tomography revealed multiple fractures in the orbital walls and magnetic resonance imaging showed effusion of the optic nerve sheath and contrast enhancement of the optic nerve. Clinical and imaging findings suggested TON and as there was no indication for surgery, pulse steroid treatment was given for 5 days. With this treatment, the patient's vision loss and clinical findings improved significantly.In conclusion, TON should be considered in patients with a head injury and post-traumatic vision loss. High-dose steroids should be considered in suitable patients.