Understanding Optic atrophy: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

Explore Over 11,000+ Conditions, Medications, and Symptoms.

Get a personalized feed by signing up for free.

All Conditions

Optic atrophy

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

General

Optic atrophy is a condition that affects the optic nerve, which carries impulses from the eye to the brain. Optic atrophy is not a disease, but rather a sign of a potentially more serious condition. Optic atrophy results from damage to the optic nerve from many different kinds of pathologies. The condition can cause problems with vision, including blindness.

16 people with Optic atrophy are on Alike.

"Alike is the place to get answers from people who firsthand share your health challenges"

Signs & symptoms

The symptoms of optic atrophy relate to a change in vision, specifically: * Blurred vision. * Difficulties with peripheral (side) vision. * Difficulties with color vision. * A reduction in sharpness of vision.

Diagnosis

It's important to see your ophthalmologist if you experience any problems with your vision, especially those listed above. If your ophthalmologist suspects optic atrophy, he or she will examine your eyes with an instrument called an ophthalmoscope. The doctor will look at the optic disc, the point at the back of the eye where the optic nerve enters. In optic atrophy, the optic disc will be pale because of a change in the flow in the blood vessels. The ophthalmologist may also perform other tests to measure your vision and peripheral and color vision. If the ophthalmologist suspects a tumor or multiple sclerosis, you may undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test.

Treatment

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.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

Latest Discussions

grimmie

Migraines with Optic Atrophy - Seeking Advice

Alike Wisdom

Instantly get answers to medical questions with our AI, built from the collective wisdom of our community facing similar experiences

Migraines with Optic Atrophy - Seeking Advice

Alike is a transformative platform that goes beyond just bringing together patients; it meticulously connects individuals based on multiple critical factors, such as age, gender, comorbidities, medications, diet, and more, fostering a community of knowledge, support and empathy.

About Alike Wisdom Blog FAQ Editorial Team All Conditions All Posts All Communities Support

Your Privacy Stories Community Guidelines Terms of Use Privacy Policy Helplines Contact Us Group Chats Guidelines Moderation Process

Sign In