PROTRACTED POSTTRAUMATIC OPTIC DISC SWELLING

Background: Optic disc swelling is a rare sequela of blunt ocular trau ma. Methods: The authors examined three young patients who had an unus ual posttraumatic optic neuropathy in which protracted swelling of the optic nerve head was the salient clinical feature. Results: Associate d choroidal ruptures in two patients suggested a contrecoup mechanism of injury to the optic nerve at its junction with the globe. All patie nts had partial recovery of vision over months, concurrent with resolu tion of the nerve head swelling and development of optic disc palter. Conclusion: Despite its protracted course, posttraumatic optic disc sw elling appears to be associated with a favorable prognosis for visual recovery.