Optic nerve damage disrupts the pathway carrying visual information from the eye to the brain. It can result in reduced vision, field loss, and colour vision changes.
Main Causes
Glaucoma, optic neuritis, ischemic optic neuropathy, compression by tumours, trauma, and hereditary neuropathies are common causes. Toxins, nutritional deficiency, and severe raised intracranial pressure can also injure the nerve.
- Symptoms include blurred or dim vision, field defects, and washed‑out colours
- Some conditions cause pain on eye movement, others are painless
- Damage may be sudden, as in vascular events, or gradual, as in glaucoma
- Systemic diseases such as multiple sclerosis and giant cell arteritis are important associations
Clinical Importance
Prompt diagnosis with visual field testing, imaging, and blood work is vital, as some causes threaten both sight and life. Treatment targets the underlying disease and aims to prevent further damage.
- Urgent evaluation is essential for sudden vision loss or suspected arteritic ischemic neuropathy
- Long‑term monitoring is required in glaucoma and compressive lesions
- Stopping toxic medications or correcting deficiencies can halt some neuropathies
- Low‑vision support may help when damage is irreversible
