Unusual combination of bilateral ischaemic optic neuropathy following cardiac surgery

Ischaemic optic neuropathy is a rare but serious complication post cardiopulmonary bypass in cardiac surgery patients. It presents with visual loss either unilaterally or bilaterally, and it can be anterior or posterior in type depending on the segment of the optic nerve involved. In non-ocular surgery patients, the most common type is called non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy. We report a case of bilateral non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy following coronary artery bypass grafting and mitral valve surgeries and review the published literature for the aetiology, management and prognosis of this rare complication.