Obstructed axoplasmic transport in Purtscher's traumatic retinopathy

Abstract

2 cases of unilateral traumatic Purtscher's retinopathy are reported. The postraumatic increase of the cephalic venous pressure may cause subconjunctival hemorrhages and retinal venous stasis followed by hemorrhages and ischaemic changes, like capillary nonperfusion and cotton-wool spots. Correlation of the fundus picture with fluorescein angiograms suggests that the cotton-wool spots found in association with capillary non-perfusion result from the obstruction of both the orthograde and the retrograde axonal flow in the retinal ganglion cell axons. After recovery, funduscopic and perimetric evidence of nerve fibre bundle defect was found.