OPTIC-NERVE ELONGATION - DOES IT EXIST

The length of the optic nerves is a reflection of normal postnatal cra nio-orbital development Unilateral elongation of an optic nerve has be en observed in two patients with orbital and skull base neoplasms. In the first case, as compared to the patient's opposite, normal optic ne rve, an elongated length of the involved optic nerve of 45 mm was pres ent. The involved optic nerve in the second patient was 10 mm longer t han the normal, opposite optic nerve. The visual and extraocular funct ion was preserved in the second patient. The first patient had only li ght perception in the affected eye. In this paper, the embryology, ana tomy, and physiology of the optic nerve and its mechanisms of stretch and repair are discussed.