Feature Story

Optic Nerve Damage

Papilloedemais a condition whereby there is a swelling of the optic nerve (transmits messages from the eye to the brain) due to elevation of the pressure of the fluid, inside the skull. Visual symptoms may include transient bouts of visual blurring, along with double vision followed by complete recovery. It is possible to have papilloedema without experiencing any symptoms. In cases of chronic papilloedema, there may be permanent visual loss and disturbance in visual fields (the extent to which a person is able to see around his environment whilst looking straight ahead). There may be associated headaches which may improve with lying down but worsen with coughing and sneezing. In the later stages, this may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The most common causes of papilloedema include:

• tumours inside the skull
• haemorrhages (bleeding inside the skull)
• brain oedema (swelling)
• hydrocephalus ('water on the brain')
• pseudotumour cerebri and
• malignant hypertension (high blood pressure).

Eye Problems may contribute to Headaches and Migraines, so it is important to have them professionally addressed. It is also important to investigate for other potential causes, as many cases of Headaches and Migraines have more than one ingredient.

Key Words:pains, eyepain, eye pains, eyestrain, eye strain, eye pain, hyperopia, hemianopia, glaucoma, myopia, optic nerve, optic neuropathy, papilloedema, astigmatism, presbyopia, optometrist, optometry, optometrists, ophthalmologists

See Treatments Section

See Practice Directory for Health experts

Author: