Hydrocephalus and the eyes: a teaching hospital experience.

BACKGROUND

The eye developes from prosencephalon, the primitive forebrain and hence share similar embryonic origin with brain. This gives insight into primary or secondary involvement of eyes in intra-cranial pathology.

OBJECTIVE

The study was done to describe ocular findings in hydrocephalus patients and effect of intervention on the complications.

METHODS

Forty one consecutive hydrocephalus patients were examined pre and post ventriculo-peritoneal shunts. Comprehensive ocular examinations included dilated fundoscopy in all cases.

RESULTS

A total of 41 patients were examined with the age range of between 4 hours to 108 months and a mean age of 21 months. Onset of the hydrocephalus varies from 4hours to 108 months, with a mean of 4.1 weeks. Twenty two patients (51.2%) presented after 2 months of onset of hydrocephalus. Most common presenting complaint was enlarged head seeing in 29 patients (70.7%).

CONCLUSION

A total of 12 (30%) out of 41 patients with hydrocephalus had optic atrophy. Another 10 patients had sun-setting phenomenon, 3 of these sun-setting phenomena resolved a week after ventriculo-peritoneal shunts. The ocular morbidity is high among hydrocephalus patients.