Visual Loss due to non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) immediately following routine strabismus surgery under general anesthesia-a case report.

PURPOSE: To report a case of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) observed immediately after uncomplicated strabismus surgery performed under general anesthesia.

METHODS

A 61-year-old woman underwent an uncomplicated strabismus surgery of her right eye under general anesthesia. Preoperatively visual acuity (VA) was LogMAR 0.18 in both eyes.

DESIGN

Retrospective, observational case report and literature review.

RESULTS

Two days following surgery, patient presented with painless visual loss. VA was No Perception of Light (NPL). Fundoscopy revealed right optic disc swelling and relative afferent pupillary defect. Perioperatively patient experienced 2 hypotensive episodes. She was evaluated for alternative etiologies of her optic neuropathy, with negative results. She was found to have mild hypercholesterolemia, which was not known prior to surgery. After 2 months she developed optic atrophy in the affected eye and the visual acuity did not recover.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy occurring immediately after strabismus surgery.