Ocular Complication in Cardiac Surgery

Abstract

Visual loss after nonocular surgery is rare but devastating. Peak rates of perioperative visual loss are with heart and spine surgery. The two possible main causes of visual loss after cardiac surgery are ischemic optic neuropathy and retinal ischemia due to embolism and / or low perfusion secondary to hemodynamic changes through cardiopulmonary bypass within the retinal, optic nerve and choroidal circulation. Stable preservation of some hemodynamic factors during cardiac surgery seems to be the key to stop visual loss. The purpose of this article is to briefly review perioperative visual loss after cardiac surgery.