Histopathology of experimental optic tract hemianopia

Optic nerve and retinal degeneration were studied histopathologically following surgical resection of the right optic tract of a rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). 7 months following resection, well-developed patterns of degeneration were seen bilaterally in optic nerves and retinas. The lesions correlated well with clinical studies done on the animal, and with lesions reported in 1 case in man. The experimental results indicate that the rhesus monkey would make a good model to study optic nerve and retinal degeneration.