Unilateral Vision Loss without Ophthalmoplegia as a Rare Complication of Spinal Surgery

Abstract

Postoperative visual loss is an extremely rare complication of nonocular surgery. The most common causes are ischemic optic neuropathy, central retinal artery occlusion, and cerebral ischemia. Acute visual loss after spinal surgery is even rarer. The most important risk factors are long-lasting operations, massive bleedings, fluid overload, hypotension, hypothermia, coagulation disorders, direct trauma, embolism, long-term external ocular pressure, and anemia. Here, we present a case of a 54-year-old male who developed acute visual loss in his left eye after a lumbar instrumentation surgery and was diagnosed with retinal artery occlusion.

Study on the relationship between scoliosis and vision problems: A narrative review

“…Eye injuries and vision loss are extremely rare complications of spinal surgery. [ 49 ] The incidence of visual loss after spinal surgery ranges from 0.028% to 0.2%, with scoliosis correction as the primary surgery. [ 50 ] At the end of the last century, Qiuxu Wang et al [ 51 ] reviewed more than 30 spinal surgery cases complicated by visual impairment and found that vision loss after spinal surgery was rare for complex reasons.…”