Self-inflicted repetitive optic nerve injury: a case report.

Purpose: To describe an obsessive-compulsive patient who developed blindness after self-inflicted repetitive optic nerve injury.
Methods: Case report.
Results: A myopic 46-year-old male became blind as a result of intermittent rubbing of his eyes, causing stretching of the optic nerves. Extensive ocular, neurologic and systemic work-ups were negative. Cerebral and orbital MR studies showed severe bilateral optic nerve atrophy. Psychiatric evaluation confirmed obsessive-compulsive personality.
Conclusions: Self-inflicted optic nerve injury should be included in the differential diagnosis of progressive optic neuropathy in a young adult.