Myopia associated with optic nerve gliomas in neurofibromatosis type 1

Optic nerve gliomas occur with increased frequency in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and constitute NF1's most frequent cause of visual loss. Axial elongation of the globe may occur in NF1 as a consequence of glaucoma, but in the absence of glaucoma that occurrence has received limited attention. We present 4 patients with NF1 who were found to have myopia and anisometropia in association with unilateral or asymmetric optic nerve gliomas. In one patient, progressive enlargement of the optic nerve glioma corresponded with further increases in myopia. To our knowledge, the association of myopia ipsilateral to the presence or growth of optic nerve gliomas has not been reported.