Preexisting Vascular Conditions: Patients with hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, or hyperlipidemia have a high risk of postoperative visual loss due to compromised blood flow and optic nerve vulnerability.
Obesity: Obese patients are at increased risk of postoperative visual loss because obesity often correlates with decreased venous return, increased intraocular pressure, and a higher incidence of vascular disease. This increases the chance of optic nerve ischemia during surgeries that require a prone position.
Male Gender: Several studies suggest that male patients have a higher likelihood of developing postoperative visual loss, particularly ischemic optic neuropathy, during spine surgeries. This might be due to anatomical or hormonal differences that affect optic nerve blood flow.
Older Age: Elderly patients over 50 may have a natural loss of optic nerve fibers and are more prone to vascular conditions. Anemia and Hypovolemia: Patients with baseline anemia or who experience significant intraoperative blood loss are at elevated risk for postoperative visual loss because of reduced oxygen delivery to the optic nerve.
