Partial Optic Nerve Atrophy

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Atrophy of the optic nerve is understood as the gradual dying off of the optic nerve and its replacement by connective tissue. A whole group of different pathological conditions can lead to this disease. Partial or complete atrophy of the optic nerve is distinguished from the degree of damage to the optic nerve and how much reduced vision. With partial atrophy, residual vision is preserved, but color perception suffers, the field of vision is narrowed, it cannot be corrected with glasses or lenses. However, the process stops there.

Causes of the disease

Incomplete optic nerve atrophy can be caused by:

Diseases of the eyes (damage to the retina, optic nerve fibers, glaucoma, inflammatory diseases, myopia, compression of the optic nerve by a tumor);
Brain damage with syphilis;
Infectious diseases (meningitis, encephalitis, arachnoiditis, brain abscess);
Diseases of the central nervous, cardiovascular systems (multiple sclerosis, granulomas, cerebral atherosclerosis, cysts, hypertension);
Weighed down heredity;
Various intoxications, poisoning with alcohol substitutes;
The consequences of the trauma.

There are the following types of disease:

Congenital atrophy - manifests itself at birth or after a short period of time after the birth of a child.
Acquired atrophy is a consequence of diseases of an adult.

Symptoms of partial optic nerve atrophy

The manifestations of the disease can be of varying severity. The main manifestations of partial optic nerve atrophy will be:

Decreased visual acuity;
The appearance of pain when trying to move the eyeballs;
Narrowing or loss of visual fields, maybe before the onset of tunnel syndrome (a person sees only what is directly in front of the eyes and nothing on the sides);
Blind spots (scotomas) appear.

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosis of the disease is usually straightforward. With a decrease in vision, a person most often turns to an ophthalmologist himself, who makes the correct diagnosis, prescribing treatment.

When examining the optic nerve, the doctor will certainly see changes in the nerve disc and its paleness. To clarify the diagnosis, more detailed studies of visual functions are prescribed, visual fields are studied, intraocular pressure is measured, fluorescence-angiographic, X-ray, electrophysiological studies are used. It is very important to find the cause of the disease, because in some situations the patient will need to undergo surgery.

Treatment of partial optic nerve atrophy

The prognosis for the treatment of partial atrophy of the optic nerve is favorable. The main goal of treatment is to stop the changes in the tissues of the optic nerve, in order to be able to save what is left. It is impossible to completely restore visual acuity, but without treatment, the disease will lead to blindness. The primary therapy will depend on the underlying cause of the optic nerve atrophy.

The drugs used in the treatment are drugs for improving the blood supply to the nerve, improving metabolism, vasodilators, multivitamins, biostimulants. These funds reduce edema, inflammation in the optic nerve head, improve its nutrition, blood supply, and stimulate the activity of the remaining nerve fibers.

If the patient needs surgical treatment, then it will be the main method of therapy. The emphasis is on treating the underlying disease, eliminating the cause that led to partial atrophy of the optic nerve. To achieve the best result, magneto-, electro-, laser stimulation of the optic nerve, ultrasound, electrophoresis, oxygen therapy can be prescribed. The earlier treatment is started, the more favorable the prognosis of the disease. Nerve tissue is practically unrecoverable, so the disease cannot be started, it must be treated in a timely manner.

Prognosis for optic nerve atrophy

Any disease, if started as early as possible, lends itself better to therapy. The same can be said about optic nerve atrophy. With timely treatment started, it is possible to restore the nerve, avoid consequences and preserve vision. A neglected disease can lead to blindness, therefore, at the first signs of decreased visual acuity, narrowing of visual fields, changes in color perception, you should immediately contact an ophthalmologist. And the doctor will do everything possible during the treatment to preserve the vision with your help.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".

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