Sign in  |  Register

Illustrated Health Encyclopedia
[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Ency. home > Disease > O > Optic nerve atrophy

Optic nerve atrophy   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Second cranial nerve atrophy

Definition:

Atrophy (tissue death) of the nerve that carries the information of vision from the eye to the brain.

Causes and Risks

There are many unrelated causes of optic atrophy. The most common is from failure of circulation, usually in the elderly patient, called ischemic optic neuropathy. The optic nerve may be damaged by shock, various toxic substances, radiation, and trauma.

Various eye diseases, glaucoma in particular, may cause optic nerve atrophy. Optic nerve atrophy may be caused by disease of the brain, such as multiple sclerosis, brain tumor, and stroke. There are several rare forms of hereditary optic nerve atrophy that affect children and young adults.

Ency. home > Disease > O > Optic nerve atrophy

[an error occurred while processing this directive]