Traumatic optic nerve avulsion and central retinal artery occlusion following rugby injury

Abstract

Optic nerve avulsion (ONA) secondary to finger gouging is a rare complication. A case is reported of a 14-year-old boy who had an acute loss of vision after being poked in his left eye during a game of rugby union. He was later diagnosed with ONA, and this was associated with central retinal artery occlusion, which was rarely reported in the literature. His progress was complicated by a delayed onset of neovascular glaucoma. This is the first report of ONA secondary to a rugby injury and highlights the need for clinicians to be aware of the potential for loss of sight from gouging.