Optic Nerve Atrophy Complete

Optic nerve atrophy (Full thickness tear of optic nerve) is a medical condition in which the layer of nerve that provides vision is damaged. In this case, the nerve cells gradually die and their places are taken by connective tissue cells. The patient begins to lose vision, first peripherally, then the central areas of the visual cortex of the brain.

Optic atrophy, or optic nerve atrophy, is a disease in which there is a decrease or complete loss of function of the optic nerve. The total volume of lesions is 70% of the visual field. With complete absence of optic nerve function, the patient is completely blind.

This leads to loss of the ability to see both during the day and at night, since peripheral vision is the main source of information about the spatial location of objects. This means that difficulties arise in finding the correct route when moving in space, problems when using transport, and as a result, the overall quality of life of patients worsens.

The causes of the disease: optic nerve atrophy can be different. Some of them are associated with diseases of the brain (encephalitis, tumors), others with pathology of the optic nerve itself, and others with diabetes mellitus and other systemic connective tissue diseases. Atrophic changes in the retina (it is part of the optic nerve) can also lead to atrophy of the optic nerve. Most often, atrophy of the optic fibers occurs in people over 60 years of age and is a very common disease, including among patients with glaucoma. In some cases, atrophy occurs in young people, but such cases are much less common. In Russia, this disease affects on average about 27 people every year. The main methods for diagnosing this disease are ophthalmological examination (examination of the eye with special equipment). For patients who complain of visual impairment, special tests are performed. Usually, visual acuity and color perception are first checked, and then drops of atropine, mesatone or atropine are applied to the area of ​​the visual spot. After a few minutes, in approximately half of the patients, vision is completely lost, and in the other half it decreases significantly, which indicates the presence of atrophy of the optic nerve fibers. Perimetry is also used - a non-invasive study of the visual field to determine functional disorders of the visual analyzer. During the examination, the patient needs to sit quietly with his eyes closed, after which the doctor begins to turn a special instrument - a diaphone, reflecting the point