What causes a pale optic disc?
Optic atrophy is a sign and typically is noted as optic nerve pallor. This is the end stage of a process resulting in optic nerve damage. Because the optic nerve fiber layer is thinned or absent the disc margins appear sharp and the disc is pale, probably reflecting absence of small vessels in the disc head.
Can a pale optic nerve be normal?
Atrophy to the optic nerve occurs when there is degeneration to the axons of the nerve. This results in recession and loss of the micro-capillary networks that supply the optic nerve. Sometimes the optic nerve can transition from being normal and healthy to having a pale/atrophic appearance.
What is optic disc pallor?
Optic disc pallor means that optic nerve axons have been damaged in variety of disorders. Delayed diagnosis may lead to irreversible blindness.
What are suspicious optic discs?
A suspicious optic disc is one with a high degree of optic disc cupping. Generally if the cup-to-disc ratio is more than 0.5 – i.e., the vertical dimensions of the cup are more than half the total top-to-bottom distance of the disc – then there may be some degree of pathological cupping.
How do you treat a pale optic nerve?
How is optic atrophy treated? There is no real cure or treatment for optic atrophy. Therefore, it’s important to have regular eye exams (especially if you have a family history of eye diseases), and to see your ophthalmologist immediately if you have any changes in your vision.
Does glaucoma cause disc pallor?
1. Optic disc pallor in excess of cupping. Various insults can occur to the optic nerve and manifest ophthalmoscopically as pallor, atrophy, cupping and notching. By far, the most common optic nerve affliction is glaucoma.
What are signs of glaucoma suspect?
Characteristics of a glaucoma “suspect” include:
- High intraocular pressure (IOP) or ocular hypertension.
- Unusual or defective visual fields.
- Other optic nerve features suggestive of glaucoma.
What percentage of glaucoma suspects get glaucoma?
Glaucoma Outlook Most people who are glaucoma suspected do not develop optic nerve damage and/or vision loss. Overall, about 1% of individuals with OHT develop glaucoma per year. The risk is higher for people who have additional risk factors besides elevated IOP.
Can you go blind from optic nerve damage?
Glaucoma is a set of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. In glaucoma, the intraocular pressure in the eye builds up gradually and starts affecting the optic nerve. This buildup of pressure slowly damages the optic nerve and may eventually lead to blindness.
What can be mistaken for glaucoma?
Conditions that can be mistaken for glaucoma include compressive or infiltrative lesions of the optic nerve, previous ischemic optic neuropathy (both arteritic and non-arteritic), congenital and hereditary optic neuropathies, post-traumatic optic neuropathy and inflammatory and demyelinating optic neuritis.
What is the treatment for optic nerve damage?
Optic neuritis usually improves on its own. In some cases, steroid medications are used to reduce inflammation in the optic nerve. Possible side effects from steroid treatment include weight gain, mood changes, facial flushing, stomach upset and insomnia. Steroid treatment is usually given by vein (intravenously).