Delayed Optic Neuropathy Caused by Orbital Hyaluronic Filler Injection and Recovery Following Hyaluronidase Treatment

Abstract

A 26-year-old female presented with left enophthalmos following orbital floor and medial wall fracture despite surgical repair. She underwent further exploration and surgical repair but the enophthalmos persisted at 3–4 mm. Following discussion, she received 2 ml of hyaluronic acid filler injection into the posterior orbit and intraconal space. There were no immediate postoperative complications with normal optic nerve function, and the enophthalmos improved by 2 mm. The optic nerve function remained normal at the 4-week review. She returned 30 months following the injection with left periorbital edema, subjective red desaturation, and reduced peripheral visual field. On examination, there was a left relative afferent pupillary defect, disc pallor, and reduced visual field defect on automated visual field test. Following transcutaneous orbital injection of hyaluronidase, there was a subjective improvement in red desaturation with an improved peripheral visual field. Here the authors present a case of compressive optic neuropathy of delayed onset following orbital hyaluronic acid filler injection.

In Brief

This case shows that orbital hyaluronic acid filler injection can cause delayed onset compressive optic neuropathy and provides evidence for patients when considering informed consent.