Traumatic Optic Neuropathy and Monocular Blindness following Transnasal Penetrating Optic Canal Injury by a Wooden Foreign Body

Reem Younis, Eran Berkowitz, Roni Shreter, Anat Kesler, Itzhak Braverman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To report a case of right eye blindness due to a penetrating injury in the contralateral nostril. Methods: This is a case report of a 67-year-old patient who presented to the emergency room complaining of transient blurred vision in his right eye after falling on a small branch with no apparent injury besides minor lacerations. The following day, the patient experienced blindness in the right eye. Physical examination revealed small lacerations on his left forehead and optic neuropathy on the right side with no other obvious discerning physical or imaging abnormalities. Results: After elevated suspicion and reassessment of the neuroimaging findings, a radiolucent track was observed in the nasal cavity, continuing up from the left nostril to the right optic nerve. Transnasal endoscopic surgery was performed and a long wooden branch was removed from the nasal cavity. Conclusion: A nasally penetrating wooden foreign body can cause traumatic optic neuropathy and vision loss on the unaffected side and can be very difficult to locate and image without any clear external evidence as to its presence. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high level of suspicion in these types of cases.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)341-347
Number of pages7
JournalCase Reports in Ophthalmology
Volume9
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Optic canal injury
  • Sinonasal injury
  • Transnasal penetration
  • Traumatic optic neuropathy
  • Wooden foreign body

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