Non-arteritic Anterior Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy after Uneventful Cataract Extraction

Abstract

We present the case of a 74-year-old Caucasian female who suffered sudden visual loss after routine phacoemulsification cataract surgery. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy. The case is described in detail, and a concise review of the literature is presented together with the authors' view on the subject outlined. This is a very rare complication after cataract surgery even in high-risk patients with associated systemic co-morbidities. We suspect that the previous history of obesity, coronary artery disease, and arteriosclerosis contributed to the development of this serious ocular complication. We suggest appropriate measures to reduce the risk of its occurrence.

Keywords: Fellow eye; ischaemic optic neuropathy; phacoemulsification.

Figure 1.

Fundus images from both eyes following cataract surgery highlighting the striking difference in the appearance of the optic discs between the right affected eye and left unaffected site. Note the presence of haemorrhages inferiorly in the right optic disc partially obscured by the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer oedema (black arrows).