The optic nerve, which some may call the optical cord, sits at the back of the eye and consists of more than a million nerve fibers that transmit visual information to the brain. Damage to the optic nerve may result in changes in vision. Knowing some of the vision problems that could result from optic nerve damage may help in detecting a condition and encourage a person to seek evaluation from an eye care professional.
Gradual Loss of Side Vision
High pressure inside the eye may lead to damage of the optic nerve, a condition called glaucoma. The damage occurs slowly and, at first, a person may not realize she has changes in vision. Over time, the person may notice that he has a difficult time seeing objects in his side vision, a sign of pressure damage to the optic nerve, explains the National Eye Institute. Once diagnosed, an eye doctor will usually prescribe eyedrops to lower the eye pressure and reduce the risk of damage to the optic nerve. The doctor will monitor the patient's vision using a visual field machine, a test that helps detect low vision or blind spots in a person's vision. If vision loss progresses, the doctor will change the prescribed eyedrop regimen to lower the eye pressure further.
Blurred Vision
The optic nerve requires blood for nourishment. If a blockage occurs in the ophthalmic artery that feeds the optic nerve, a stroke may occur in the nerve, a condition called ischemic optic neuropathy. The blockage prevents blood from reaching the nerve fibers, eliminating or reducing the amount of oxygen the optic nerve receives. During this event, a person's vision will seem blurry or dark, reports Dr. Steven R. Virata, of the Retina Center at Williamson Eye Institute, in Lafayette, Indiana. Doctors do not have a treatment for the condition, but some patients do have a partial return of vision over time. However, some people experience a continual decline in vision after the event.
Changes in Color Perception
Damage to the optic nerve from certain conditions, such as optic neuritis, may change how a person sees color. Optic neuritis occurs when the optic nerve has inflammation. In most cases, optic neuritis results from autoimmune conditions, such as multiple sclerosis. The changes in color perception typically affect variations of red, making the color appear dull, explains MayoClinic.com. Doctors treat the inflammation with steroids or other medications, and resolution of optic neuritis will often bring the person's color vision back to the normal perception of color.
