Objective: To describe the neuro-ophthalmic findings in a group of patients
with head trauma.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients given a
diagnosis code of head trauma in the neuroophthalmology unit at Emory Univ
ersity between 1991 and 1999.
Results: A total of 326 consecutive patients were reviewed (203 [63%] men a
nd 123 [37.0%] women). Age ranged from 2 to 86 years, with a mean of 30 yea
rs. Motor vehicle accident was the most common cause of head trauma. occurr
ing in 195 (59.8%) patients. An abnormal neuro-ophthalmic examination was n
oted in 185 of 326 patients (56.7%). Loss of consciousness was not associat
ed with any outcome, but the presence of a neuroimaging abnormality, partic
ularly intracranial hemorrhage. was significantly associated with specific
neuroophthalmic deficits.
Conclusions: Head trauma causes a number of neuroophthalmic manifestations.
The afferent and efferent pathways are vulnerable to traumatic injury. alt
hough the efferent system is more commonly affected. Loss of consciousness
may not be a reliable predictor of specific neuro-ophthalmic outcomes, but
neuroimaging abnormalities may.