Damage to the optic nerve, or optic atrophy, is a sign of a serious problem, but is not a disease. Optic nerve damage can potentially cause blindness and other vision problems. The most common cause of optic atrophy is poor blood flow, called ischemic optic neuropathy, or stroke of the optic nerve, according to MedlinePlus. Certain illnesses, trauma and medications can cause optic nerve damage as well.
Significance
The optic nerve is located at the very back of the eye and carries visual information and impulses from the eye to the brain. Glaucoma.org notes that the optic nerve is the part of the eye that is damaged by diseases such as glaucoma.
Glaucoma and Optic Nerve Damage
Glaucoma is an eye disorder that causes optic nerve damage. It is usually the result of intraocular eye pressure on the optic nerve, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Not everyone with high eye pressure develops glaucoma; some people with normal pressure may develop it as well. The American Optometric Association notes that glaucoma is the second-leading cause of blindness in the United States.
Optic Nerve Tumors
Tumors cause damage to optic nerves. University of Iowa Health Care notes that optic nerve tumors are rare but treatable. Optic nerve tumors are usually treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and sometimes observation.
Optic Neuritis
Optic neuritis is swelling or inflammation of the optic nerve. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library states that optic neuritis is a common manifestation of multiple sclerosis. It is also caused, however, by diseases such as tuberculosis, syphilis, HIV and from infections such as encephalitis, meningitis and sinusitis. Some drugs such as arsenic and certain antibiotics cause the optic nerve to swell.
Congenital Causes of Optic Nerve Damage
Optic nerve damage is sometimes the result of a hereditary condition. Leber's optic neuropathy is a form of optic nerve damage in which a person will lose vision in one eye and then the other. Some people are born with a rare condition in which the optic nerve has abnormal formation.
