What Is Optic Nerve Atrophy?

Optic nerve atrophy (optic atrophy) refers to any disease that causes retinal ganglion cells and their axons to become morphological changes that cause the optic nerve to become thinner. It usually occurs in the ganglion cells between the retina and the lateral geniculate body. Axial mutation. Optic nerve atrophy is the final result of optic nerve lesions, manifested as degeneration and disappearance of optic nerve fibers, conduction dysfunction, visual field changes, vision loss and loss. Generally divided into two categories of primary and secondary. Fundus examination showed that the color of the nipple was pale yellow or pale, the state was blurred, the physiological depression disappeared, and the blood vessels became thinner.

Basic Information

English name

optic atrophy

Visiting department

Ophthalmology

Common locations

Optic nerve

Common causes

Optic neuritis, intracranial lesions, etc.

Common symptoms

Vision loss, optic disk is pale or pale

Causes of optic atrophy

Primary optic atrophy

Often caused by retrobulbar optic neuritis, hereditary optic neuropathy (Leber disease), intraorbital tumor compression, trauma, neurotoxin and other reasons. These lesions occur in the back of the eyeball.

2. Secondary optic nerve atrophy

Common papillitis, papillary edema, retinal choroiditis, retinal pigment degeneration, central retinal artery occlusion, quinine poisoning, ischemic papillary disease, glaucoma, etc.

3. Intracranial lesions

Intracranial inflammation, such as tuberculous meningitis or optic cross arachnoiditis, can cause descending optic nerve atrophy, and if the inflammation spreads to the optic nipples, it can manifest as secondary optic nerve atrophy. Increased intracranial pressure caused by intracranial tumors can cause optic nipple edema and then form secondary optic nerve atrophy.

Optic nerve atrophy clinical manifestations

Main manifestations of vision loss and optic discs are gray or pale. A fissure-like or wedge-shaped defect may occur when the nerve fiber layer around the optic disc is damaged. The former becomes blacker and is exposed to the retinal pigment layer; the latter is redr and is exposed to the choroid. If the damage occurs in the upper and lower margins of the optic disc, it is easier to identify, because the nerve fiber layer in this area is particularly thick, and if the lesion is far away from the optic disc area, it is not easy to find because the nerve fiber guides in these areas become thin. Focal atrophy around the optic disc often indicates a lesion in the nerve fiber layer, which is caused by the thinning of the nerve fiber layer in this area.

Although it is usually found by fundus examination, it is easier to check with non-red optometry glasses and fundus photographs. Optic disc small blood vessels are usually 9-10, if the optic nerve atrophy, the number of these small blood vessels will be reduced. In the same fashion, retinal arteries are thinned, narrowed, and occluded.

Optic nerve atrophy is divided into primary and secondary: the former has a clear optic disc realm with visible physiological depression and sieve plate; the latter has ambiguous realm with physiological depression and sieve plate not visible.

Optic nerve atrophy test

1. Visual evoked potential (VEP) examination

It can be found that the latency or / and amplitude of the P100 wave peak is significantly reduced. VEP can objectively evaluate visual function, which is of great significance for the diagnosis, condition monitoring and efficacy judgment of OA.

2. Central visual field quantitative threshold check program using commonly used computer automatic perimeter

Visible concentricity can sometimes suggest the etiology of this disease. For example, bilateral temporal blindness should exclude intracranial optic cross-occupying lesions, and large or paracentral dark spots should exclude Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. This test can be used for visual function assessment, and has important significance for the diagnosis, condition monitoring and efficacy judgment of OA.

3. CT or MRI examination of the skull or eye

Visible and infiltrating optic neuropathy can be seen in patients with intracranial or orbital space-occupying lesions oppressing the optic nerve; patients with optic myelitis, multiple sclerosis and other diseases can see central nervous system white matter demyelinating lesions. This test can exclude or confirm the diagnosis of compressive and invasive optic neuropathy and demyelinating disease in the etiology diagnosis of OA.

4. Use of genetic testing technology

Detection of mitochondrial DNA or nuclear genes by blood, other body fluids or cells shows that there is a mutation in the corresponding gene locus in OA patients caused by hereditary optic neuropathy. This test can exclude or confirm hereditary optic neuropathy in the diagnosis of the etiology of OA.

Optic nerve atrophy diagnosis

Diagnosis can be made based on the cause, clinical manifestations, and laboratory tests.

Optic Nerve Atrophy Treatment

Cause treatment

Once the optic nerve atrophies, it is almost impossible to make it recover, but it is entirely possible for its residual nerve fibers to restore or maintain its function. Therefore, patients should be confident and adhere to treatment.

2. Drug treatment

Commonly used drugs include neurotrophic drugs such as vitamin B ₁ , B ₁₂ , ATP, and coenzyme A, vasodilators and blood stasis drugs such as nicotinic acid, dobazole, vitamin E, vitaminol, compound salvia and the like. In recent years, certain effects have been achieved through hyperbaric oxygen and external counterpulsation acupoint injection 654-2.