Dexamethasone and Methylprednisolone in Treatment of Indirect Traumatic Optic Neuropathy
KITTHISAK KITTHAW EESIN, M.D.*,
YOSANAN YOSPAffiOON, M.D.*
Affiliation : *Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
AbstractA randomized, double blind study was carried out to compare the efficacy of dexametha
sone and methylprednisolone in the treatment of indirect traumatic optic neuropathy. Twenty-one
patients, 20 male and 1 female, were diagnosed as having suffered from indirect traumatic optic
neuropathy. The time from injury to treatment was within 7 days. The average age was 26.38 ±
11.89 years. The most common cause of injury was motor vehicle accident (MV A). Associated
head and maxillofacial injury were reported 43.48 and 34.78 per cent, respectively. Before treat
ment, no light perception was detected in 19.05 per cent of the participants. Treatments were
randomized: ten patients received dexamethasone intravenously for 72 hours and 11 methylpredni
solone. The best corrected visual acuities (BCV A) were determined using the Snellen Chart
before and 1, 2, 3, 7, 14 and 60 days after treatment. Three or more lines of improvement of the
BCV A, were found in 70 and 67 per cent of patients treated with dexamethasone, and 45.45 and
33.33 per cent of patients treated with methylprednisolone, at 2 weeks and 2 months, respectively.
There were no significant differences in age, cause of injury, injury to treatment interval, initial
BCV A and visual improvement between the two groups.
Keywords : Traumatic Optic Neuropathy, Dexamethasone, Methylprednisolone
All Articles
Download
