Serial follow-up in traumatic optic neuropathy using scanning laser polarimetry and visual field testing

A 40-year-old male patient suffered from traumatic optic neuropathy in his right eye. Scanning laser polarimetry was arranged at 2 weeks, 9 weeks, 13 weeks, 24 weeks, and 34 weeks after the trauma. Manual or automated visual field testing was also arranged at 1 week, 5 weeks, 16 weeks, and 28 weeks correspondingly. The data revealed using scanning laser polarimetry (program GDx, version 1.0.05; Laser Diagnostic Technologies, San Diego, Calif, USA) were nearly normal at 2 weeks after trauma, but lower visual field loss was revealed using visual field testing within 2 weeks after the trauma. The superior hump of the GDx deviated from normal at about 9 weeks and some GDx parameters (the Number, Superior/Nasal, Ellipse Modulation (Ellipse Mod.), Maximal Modulation (Max. Mod.), Symmetry, Superior Ratio (Super. Ratio)) became worse later in the series. We propose that visual field defects might be present before retinal nerve fiber layer loss. In this case, scanning laser polarimetry for evaluating the severity of traumatic optic neuropathy was limited especially within 2 weeks after the trauma.