Optic Neuropathy

Question 1

What is optic neuropathy? What might someone present with?

Answer 1

Damage to optic nerve resulting in:

• Impaired visual acuity
• Impaired visual fields
• Impaired coloured vision
• RAPD= Rapid afferent pupillary defect

Question 2

What are the 3 broad causes of optic neuropathy?

Answer 2

Traumatic

Inflammatory

• MS
• Demyelinating optic neuritis

Compression
-SOL

Question 3

What does RAPD stand for? What cause it and how can it be assessed?

Answer 3

Rapid afferent pupillary defect
Cause= unilateral optic neuropathies (ischaemic/neuritis/compressive)

Assessment= swinging pen torch test

• light shone on unaffected eye= constriction in both eyes as normal
• light shone on affected eye= pupil dilates in presence of light stimulus due to absence afferents meaning on slight constriction due to consensual impact will result in minimal constriction of pupils