Visual disorders or "eye stroke"after heart surgery: can we prevent it?

The aim of the study was to elucidate the problem of visual disorders after heart surgery, focusing on aetiology, modes of prevention and treatment. Information from a literature search and the authors' personal experience are provide clues as to the modes of development and the means of avoidance and therapy of this category of postoperative, neurosensory complications. Multiple morbid situations, such as preoperative augmented ocular pressure, perioperative bleeding and hypotension, are shown to be predisposing and precipitating factors. Medical treatment seems to be less important than minimisation of risk factors. Prevention rather than treatment is more helpful for heart-operated patients, as far as postoperative visual disorders are concerned.