Nerve Growth Factor Eye Drop Administration Improves Visual Function in a Patient With Optic Glioma

Background. Spontaneous visual improvement in people with an optic glioma (OG) of the anterior or retrochiasmatic optic pathways is rare. Objective. To evaluate the effects on visual function of nerve growth factor (NGF) eye drop administration in a patient with severe visual impairment due to a low-grade OG. Methods. A 45-year-old woman with OG and long-standing optic nerve atrophy was assessed before and after 2 NGF treatment courses. The drug used was 2.5S murine NGF. One milligram of NGF, diluted in saline solution, was administered onto the conjunctiva of both eyes for 10 consecutive days 3 times a day for each treatment. The follow-up was performed by clinical, neuroradiologic, and electrophysiological tests (electroretinogram and visual evoked potentials [VEPs]) at the end of each treatment and 30 and 60 days later. Results. A repeated subjective and objective improvement of visual function (>3 lines visual acuity; >40 degrees visual field; >50% VEP amplitude increase, Wilcoxon test P < .01) was recorded after NGF treatment. These measures tended to deteriorate toward baseline values 60 days from the end of each NGF treatment. No ocular or systemic side effects were observed throughout treatment. Conclusions. Conjunctival NGF may be a beneficial adjunct therapy for visual loss in patients with OG, possibly exerting its effects on residual viable optic pathways.