Optic Atrophy
The Optic nerve is the cable that takes the message from the eye to the brain to enable you to see.
It is only 1.5mm in diameter and has approximately 1 million nerve fibres packed into this small space. When some of these nerves are damaged it causes loss of visual signal to the brain which is experienced as loss of vision. This is called Optic Atrophy.
Some of the symptoms and signs of Optic Atrophy include: Blurred vision, reduced colour appreciation, disturbance to the field of vision, dimming of what one can see along with poor pupil reaction to light and optic nerve paleness (the healthy optic nerve is pink).
Treatment very much depends on the cause. Blood tests, x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and some other tests can help find out. If it is felt to be due to active inflammation then Steroids may help reduce the amount of damage.
Getting the diagnosis correct is important and will therefore direct possible treatment. Should the damage to the nerve be permanent then looking at magnification aids in the Visual Aid Clinic and being registered as having sight difficulty can be of enormous help.
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| B08000603 |
