Clinical approach to optic neuropathies

Raed Behbehani

Neuro-Ophthalmology Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Ibn Sina Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait

Abstract: Optic neuropathy is a frequent cause of vision loss encountered by ophthalmologist. The diagnosis is made on clinical grounds. The history often points to the possible etiology of the optic neuropathy. A rapid onset is typical of demyelinating, inflammatory, ischemic and traumatic causes. A gradual course points to compressive, toxic/nutritional and hereditary causes. The classic clinical signs of optic neuropathy are visual field defect, dyschromatopsia, and abnormal papillary response. There are ancillary investigations that can support the diagnosis of optic neuropathy. Visual field testing by either manual kinetic or automated static perimetry is critical in the diagnosis. Neuro-imaging of the brain and orbit is essential in many optic neuropathies including demyelinating and compressive. Newer technologies in the evaluation of optic neuropathies include multifocal visual evoked potentials and optic coherence tomography.

Keywords: optic neuropathy, optic neuritis, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION), traumatic optic neuropathy, Leber’s optic neuropathy, dominant optic atrophy, recessive optic atrophy, radiation optic neuropathy, optical coherence tomography, multiple sclerosis