How common is blindness after spinal surgery?

The short answer to this question is that blindness after spinal surgery is quite rare. In most cases, there are no adverse visual complications following a spinal procedure, and the risk of blindness afterward is extremely low.

However, it's important to note that there are certain conditions where some degree of vision loss could potentially occur post-surgery, such as if the patient has an existing eye condition or neurological disorder which predisposes them to greater risk for damage to their vision. Also, if any nerves in the area around the spine happen to be damaged during surgery itself due to incorrect positioning or accidental trauma from instruments used on site then this may also present a chance of permanent visual impairment.

Some estimates place chances of blindness after spinal surgery at anywhere between 0%-1?ross all types of cases; these numbers decrease considerably when considering procedures that do not involve manipulation or excision very close proximity to important visual structures like optic nerves and retinal tissue. As such it can safely be said that overall, the risk associated with blindness after spinal surgery is incredibly low and nothing much more than a theoretical concern rather than something likely tangible outcome in modern medical practice.