The treatment of traumatic optic neuropathy

Objective To compare the visual outcome of traumatic optic neuropathy treated with corticosteroids, treated with optic canal decompression surgery, or observed without treatment. Design Comparative nonrandomized interventional study with concurrent treatment groups. Participants A total of 133 patients with traumatic optic neuropathy (127 unilateral and 6 bilateral) who had an initial visual assessment within 3 days of injury. At least 1 month of follow-up was required for inclusion in the primary analysis. Interventions On the basis of treatment received within 7 days of injury, patients with unilateral injuries were categorized as being in one of three treatment groups: untreated (n = 9), corticosteroid (n = 85), or optic canal decompression surgery (n = 33). Main outcome measure Visual acuity. Results Visual acuity increased by ≥3 lines in 32% of the surgery group, 57% of the untreated group, and 52% of the steroid group (P = 0.22). The surgery group had more patients whose initial vision was no light perception. After adjustment for the baseline visual acuity, there were no significant differences between any of the treatment groups. There was no indication that the dosage or timing of corticosteroid treatment or the timing of surgery was associated with an increased probability of visual improvement. Conclusions No clear benefit was found for either corticosteroid therapy or optic canal decompression surgery. The number of patients studied was sufficient to rule out major effects in the treatment groups, although clinically relevant effects in specific subgroups could have been missed. These results and the existing literature provide sufficient evidence to conclude that neither corticosteroids nor optic canal surgery should be considered the standard of care for patients with traumatic optic neuropathy. It is therefore clinically reasonable to decide to treat or not treat on an individual patient basis.