Vitamins in the B complex family include thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid and cobalamin. These nutrients provide some of the essential nutrients your body needs to function properly. Deficiencies in...
There are a number of different types of optic nerve atrophy, so presentation can vary from case to case. In general, patients experience abnormal color vision and a decrease in visual acuity. Optic nerve atrophy can occur precipitously or...
Once the optic nerve has been destroyed, abraded or otherwise damaged, you cannot restore it via any therapy that's currently available. Your focus instead should be on treating the underlying cause of atrophy and preventing further damage both...
The myelin sheath, which covers the axon of the neuron, performs important functions for neural communication. In the central nervous system, or the brain and spinal cord, oligodendrocytes make up the myelin sheath, while Schwann cells make up the...
According to the Mayo Clinic, vitamin B12 is a necessary vitamin found in fish, shellfish, meat and dairy products. It is essential for nerve function, red blood cell production and the formation of DNA. Because vitamin B12 is found in meats,...
The optic nerve is important because it has the job of sending visual information from the eyes to the brain. And yet, there are several disorders that can cause damage to this nerve for various reasons. Some hereditary diseases can damage the...
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin found naturally in foods such as dairy products, eggs, meat and fish. Functions of B12 in the body include assisting with metabolism and the formation of red blood cells, and helping to maintain the central...
Demyelinating disease causes the myelin sheaths that cover nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to deteriorate. When myelin sheaths deteriorate, the nerves can't properly transmit impulses. Demyelination of the nerves can occur in the nerves...
In order for us to see in color, light is absorbed by visual pigments in the eye called photoreceptors. Cones, which can be one of three different pigments, are the photoreceptors that are responsible for color vision. Color is perceived when the...
Just as the human body has individual organs the carry out specific functions and work together, the body's cells have parts dedicated to specific functions. These parts are called organelles, which means "little organs." Many of the organelles...
The optic nerves begin at the back of the eye in an area called the optic disc. They transmit visual information from the eye to the brain, which is responsible for comprehending the visual input. Many types of disorders can damage the optic...
The ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) lists more than 100 eye and ear diseases. There are a number general vision problems such as strabismus, myopia (near-sightedness), hypermentropia...
Mitochondria have the important job of changing the nutrients within a cell into energy. Yet, it has only been 10 years since mitochondrial diseases have gained importance, according to Gregory Barsh, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics and...
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...
