Fundus changes following severe trauma to the intracranial optic nerve were followed by means of serial fundus photography. The eye was completely blind. Little change was seen during the first 4 weeks. The retinal nerve fibre layer disappeared gradually during weeks 4 to 8. At the same time the retinal vessels turned narrow, and vascular pseudo-sheathing appeared close to the optic disc. Disc pallor was not maximal until the 12th week, when the peripapillary retina also had acquired a mottled appearance.