July 5, 2011
Fact Sheet
Little, Susan – GLAUCOMA – Optic Nerve Atrophy
FACTS:
Optic Atrophy
Definition
The optic nerve carries images of what we see coded as electrical impulses, from the
retina to our brain. The optic nerve is like a cable of more than a million tiny electrical
wires, or nerve fibers each carrying a part of the visual information. If these nerve fibers
become damaged the brain doesn't get all the vision information and our sight becomes
blurred. Optic atrophy means the loss of some (resulting in little visual change) or most
(resulting in severe visual loss) of the nerve fibers in the optic nerve.
Many diseases and disorders can lead to optic atrophy or damage to one or both optic
nerves. Optic atrophy can occur in people where the optic nerve or nerves did not
develop properly. It may also result from inflammation of the optic nerve or from
glaucoma when the pressure inside the eye remains too high. In unusual cases,
poisons, vitamin deficiencies, or tumors may be responsible. Most commonly, optic
atrophy simply occurs without a known or proven cause.
Symptoms
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Blurred vision
Abnormal side vision
Abnormal color vision
Poor constriction of the pupil in light
Decreased brightness in one eye relative to the other
The symptoms described above may not necessarily mean that you have optic atrophy.
However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact your eye doctor for
a complete exam.
Treatment
The optic nerve enters the back of the eye where it appears as a small disc, which your
ophthalmologist can examine by looking through the pupil of your eye with a special
instrument called an ophthalmoscope. If optic atrophy is present, this small disc will
appear pale or white, indicating loss of nerve fibers. If you show some of the symptoms
listed above, your ophthalmologist may decide to perform additional tests.
Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for optic atrophy. Once the nerve fibers in
the optic nerve are lost they never heal or grow back. Therefore, the best defense is an
early diagnosis because if the cause can be found and corrected, further damage can
be prevented.
Source: http://www.kellogg.umich.edu/patientcare/conditions/optic.atrophy.html
IMAGE SOURCE PAGE: http://telemedicine.orbis.org/bins/content_page.asp?cid=735-28584396-2862-2864-3904
Symptoms of Optic nerve atrophy:
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Optic atrophy includes
the 3 symptoms listed below:
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Loss of vision
Pale optic disk
Impaired pupil reaction
Source: http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/o/optic_atrophy/symptoms.htm?ktrack=kcplink#symptom_list
More on Optic nerve atrophy
Optic nerve atrophy is damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve carries images of
what we see from the eye to the brain.
Causes
There are many unrelated causes of optic atrophy. The most common cause is poor
blood flow, called ischemic optic neuropathy, which most often affects elderly people.
The optic nerve can also be damaged by shock, various toxic substances, radiation,
and trauma.
Various eye diseases, most commonly glaucoma, can also cause a form of optic nerve
atrophy. In addition, the condition can be caused by diseases of the brain and central
nervous system, such as:
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Brain tumor
Cranial arteritis (sometimes called temporal arteritis)
Multiple sclerosis
Stroke
There are also several rare forms of hereditary optic nerve atrophy that affect children
and young adults.
Symptoms
Optic nerve atrophy causes vision to dim and reduces the field of vision. The ability to
see fine detail will also be lost. Colors will seem faded. The pupil reaction to light will
diminish and may eventually be lost.
Exams and Tests
Optic nerve atrophy can be seen during a complete examination of the eyes. The
examination will include tests of:
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Color loss
Pupil light reflex
Tonometry
Visual acuity
You may need a complete physical examination and specific tests.
Treatment
Damage from optic nerve atrophy cannot be reversed. The underlying disease must be
found and treated, if possible, to prevent further loss.
Rarely, conditions that lead to optic atrophy may be treatable.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Vision lost to optic nerve atrophy cannot be recovered. If the cause can be found and
controlled, further vision loss and blindness may be prevented. It is very important to
protect the other eye.
Possible Complications
Complications are related to the disease that causes the atrophy.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Patients with optic nerve atrophy will be closely monitored by an ophthalmologist who
has experience in neuro-ophthalmology. Tell your doctor right away about any change
in vision.
Prevention
Many causes of optic nerve atrophy cannot be prevented.
Ways to protect yourself include:
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Older adults should have their health care provider carefully manage their blood
pressure.
Prevent injuries to the face by using standard safety precautions. Most injuries to
the face are related to motor vehicle accidents and can be prevented by using
seat belts.
Schedule a routine annual eye exam to check for glaucoma.
Methanol, which is found in home-brewed alcohol, can cause optic nerve atrophy in
both eyes. Never drink home-brewed alcohol and forms of alcohol that are not intended
for drinking.
Source: Medline Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001622.htm