Intraocular axonal swelling produced by partial, immediately retrobulbar ligature of optic nerve.

This is the first report of an experimental intraorbital ligature producing papilledema characterized by axonal swelling and accumulation of mitochondria in the lamina retinalis of the optic disc of rhesus monkeys subjected to immediately retrobulbar ligature of a portion of the optic nerve. This is an improved technique for investigating the pathogenesis of papilledema and optic neuropathy.