Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2011 Jul;54(7):489-492. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2011.54.7.489.

A Case of Posterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy after Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

• Huh SH
• Lee SU
• Lee JY
• Lee KC

• KMID: 2277262
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2011.54.7.489

Abstract

Recently, endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has been acknowledged as a standard surgical procedure for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis. Orbital complications of varying degrees that may occur during ESS have been widely reported. Blindness, one of the major complications that can occur during or immediately after ESS, is mainly attributed to orbital hematoma or direct injury to the optic nerve. In contrast to such direct mechanical trauma caused during ESS, we report a case of acute loss of vision that followed ESS without a definite cause. A postulated mechanism for idiopathic optic neuropathy is that it is ischema resulted from vasospasm in the branches of ophthalmic artery due to topical use of vasoconstrictive agents. Otorhinolaryngologists should be aware that this condition may occur following an uncomplicated ESS procedure. When loss of sight is diagnosed postoperatively, patients should be given prompt ophthalmological consultation and possible causes should be considered.

Keyword

Endoscopic sinus surgery; Complication; Optic nerve disease

MeSH Terms

Blindness
Hematoma
Humans
Ophthalmic Artery
Optic Nerve
Optic Nerve Diseases
Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic
Orbit
Vision, Ocular