What causes atrophy in the eye?
Optic atrophy can occur due to damage within the eye (glaucoma, optic neuritis, papilledema, etc.), along the path of the optic nerve to the brain (tumor, neurodegenerative disorder, trauma, etc.), or it can be congenital (Leber’s hereditary optic atrophy, autosomal dominant optic atrophy).
What is the most common cause of optic atrophy?
There are many causes of optic atrophy. The most common is poor blood flow. This is called ischemic optic neuropathy. The problem most often affects older adults.
What are the types of optic atrophy?
Classification
- Pathologic optic atrophy. Anterograde degeneration (Wallerian degeneration) – Degeneration begins in the retina and proceeds toward the lateral geniculate body (eg, toxic retinopathy, chronic simple glaucoma).
- Ophthalmoscopic optic atrophy. a) Primary optic atrophy.
- Etiologic optic atrophy. Hereditary atrophy.
Can optic atrophy reversed?
Damage from optic nerve atrophy cannot be reversed. The underlying disease must be found and treated. Otherwise, vision loss will continue. Rarely, conditions that lead to optic atrophy may be treatable.
What is the treatment for optic atrophy?
Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for optic atrophy. Once the nerve fibers in the optic nerve are lost they never heal or grow back. However, early diagnosis and treatment of the underlying causes of optic atrophy can help prevent further damage from the disease.
How serious is optic atrophy?
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.
Can glasses help optic atrophy?
If Optic Atrophy has negatively affected your peripheral (side) vision, your low vision doctor may recommend prismatic reading glasses. These glasses can help expand your field of vision so that your peripheral vision is enhanced, so you’re more aware of your surroundings.
How common is optic atrophy?
It is considered a rare condition, affecting approximately 1 in 35,000 people. The prevalence of blindness due to Optic Atrophy is 0.8%.
How does someone with optic atrophy see?
Optic atrophy type 1 is a condition that often causes slowly worsening vision, usually beginning in childhood. People with optic atrophy type 1 typically experience a narrowing of their field of vision (tunnel vision). Affected individuals gradually lose their sight as their field of vision becomes smaller.
Does optic atrophy get worse?
Description. Optic atrophy type 1 is a condition that often causes slowly worsening vision, usually beginning in childhood. People with optic atrophy type 1 typically experience a narrowing of their field of vision (tunnel vision). Affected individuals gradually lose their sight as their field of vision becomes smaller …