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Perioperative vision loss: A complication to watch out
1Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Journal of Anaesthesiology, Clinical Pharmacology
|February 21, 2012
Summary
Postoperative vision loss is a rare complication after surgery, especially spine surgery. This review details causes, presentation, and treatment, offering guidelines to prevent blindness.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurosurgery
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
Background:
- Postoperative vision loss (PVL) is a rare but severe complication following various surgical procedures.
- Incidence of PVL is higher after spine surgeries compared to cardiothoracic surgeries.
- Potential causes include ischemic optic neuropathy, retinal artery occlusion, and cortical blindness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the causes, presentation, and treatment of postoperative vision loss.
- To provide practical guidelines for preventing this complication.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of electronic databases.
- Manual search of relevant literature.
Main Results:
- Identified ischemic optic neuropathy, retinal artery occlusion, and cortical blindness as primary causes.
- Highlighted microvascular diseases and hemodynamic compromise as potential contributing factors, though their exact association requires further confirmation.
- Discussed rare cases of external ocular injury.
Conclusions:
- Postoperative vision loss is a significant risk, particularly after spine surgery.
- Understanding the causes and risk factors is crucial for prevention.
- Adherence to practical guidelines can help mitigate the incidence of PVL.
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