Neuro-Ophthalmic Deficits after Head Trauma

Head trauma can injure the afferent and/or efferent visual systems, resulting in neuro-ophthalmic deficits. When assessing afferent pathway injuries, a stepwise approach to evaluating visual acuity, pupils, color perception, and visual fields is critical. Traumatic optic neuropathy is of especial importance and its management must be tailored on a case-by-case basis. Efferent pathway injuries should be assessed with attention to abnormalities of ocular alignment and motility, which may occur as isolated deficits or as part of a recognizable syndrome. Concussion or diffuse axonal injuries may also affect ophthalmologic function. Here, we review the extant literature describing the assessment and acute treatment of traumatic neuro-ophthalmic deficits.