Ischemic Optic Neuropathy in a Child

Nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy is a rare event in childhood, occurring mostly in the setting of major surgical procedures or hypovolemia. We report on a child who presented with this unusual complication during the course of therapy with sildenafil citrate, which is gaining acceptance as a treatment modality for pulmonary hypertension in the pediatric age group. The ocular complications of this drug have been widely reported in the adult literature, but there are sparse reports, if any, in the pediatric age group. The likely pathophysiology of this condition is reviewed, as are the other ophthalmologic complications of this drug.