Temporary blindness associated with traumatic asphyxia.

Traumatic asphyxia is an uncommon syndrome of craniocervical cyanosis, facial petechiae, and subconjunctival hemorrhages following severe crush injury to the thorax. Ocular manifestations of the syndrome have rarely been reported. A 42-year-old male sustained temporary blindness in association with traumatic asphyxia. Completely normal vision returned within 24 hours of injury. The pathogenesis of this unique finding probably involves transient retinal vein hypertension and reflex vasospasm in the retina.