[Optic nerve injury from the medical expertise point of view]

The optic nerve can be injured directly or indirectly. Direct injury occurs in association with orbital or craniocerebral injury with interruption of anatomical and functional optic nerve integrity. Indirect injuries occur when the force of impact is transmitted to the optic nerve. In the indirect injury group the mostly false diagnosed is traumatic opticoneuropathy especially after whiplash injury. According to Quebec classification, after whiplash injury Ist to IIIrd degree, ophthalmologic examination or visual field testing is not necessary, because there is no possibility of optic nerve injury. The first signs of injured optic nerve are the loss of maximal visual acuity and the presence of pupillary defect. High doses of glucocorticoids or surgical decompression can be applied in the treatment of traumatic opticoneuropathy.