Optic disc and retinal vessel changes in children with surgically treated hydrocephalus: a cross-sectional study

: AIM: To study the optic disc and retinal vessel morphology using both indirect ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography in children with surgically treated hydrocephalus. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with 50 children of surgically treated hydrocephalus as cases and compared them with 50 age matched controls. All children were examined by indirect ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography for the evaluation of optic disc and retinal vessel changes. Results: Optic atrophy was found in six out of the fifty children (12%) tested. In comparison with the reference group, median optic disc area was significantly smaller (p<0.0001) in children with hydrocephalus. There was not much difference in cup area, but the rim area was smaller (p<0.0001) in children with hydrocephalus. On indirect ophthalmoscopy children with hydrocephalus had optic atrophy and abnormal retinal vascular pattern. Conclusion: Children with surgically treated hydrocephalus were found to have subnormal optic disc and neuro-retinal rim areas with abnormal vascular pattern. The importance of diagnosis of these optic disc and retinal vessel changes in children with surgically treated hydrocephalus by OCT imaging and follow up at regular intervals to look for any additional changes can help us to prevent further damage to the optic nerve.