Ischemic Optic Neuropathy after a Long Airplane Flight: Coincidence or Rare Economy Class Syndrome Manifestation?

Introduction

Air travel has become very common nowadays. Subsequently, an increase of reports concerning flight-induced medical incidents has occurred. The association between thromboembolic episodes and long distance airplane journeys is well documented [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), known as “economy-class syndrome”, are the most frequently reported conditions [1]. Flight-induced ocular incidents are very uncommon. This report presents a patient, with no previous medical history, who developed ischemic optic neuropathy in his right eye (OD) after a 12-hour-long airplane flight.

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