Treatment of optic nerve atrophy. Partial atrophy of the optic nerve: treatment Restoration of vision with atrophy of the optic nerve

Optic nerve atrophy is a pathological process in which nerve fibers are partially or completely destroyed, replaced by connective tissue. As a result, there is a violation of the functions of the nervous tissue. Most often, atrophy is a complication of some other eye disease.

With the progression of the process, there is a gradual death of neurons, as a result of which the information coming from the retina of the eye enters the brain in a distorted form. With the development of the disease, more and more cells die, eventually the entire nerve trunk is affected.

In this case, it becomes almost impossible to restore visual function. Therefore, treatment should be started at a very early stage, when the first signs of the disease appear.

How is optic nerve atrophy treated, what are the symptoms of this eye disease? We will talk about all this today on this page "Popular about health" with you. But let's start our conversation with the characteristic signs of this pathology:

Symptoms of atrophy of the nerve of the eye

It all starts with a decrease in vision. This process can occur gradually or rapidly, suddenly. It all depends on the location of the nerve lesion, on which segment of the trunk it develops. Depending on the severity of the pathological process, visual impairment is divided into degrees:

Uniform decline. It is characterized by a uniform deterioration in the ability to see objects, to distinguish colors.

Loss of side margins. A person distinguishes well between objects in front of him, but he sees poorly, or does not see at all what is on the side.

Loss of spots. Normal vision is hindered by a spot in front of the eye, which can have different sizes. Within its limits, a person does not see anything, outside of it, vision is normal.

In severe cases of complete atrophy, the ability to see is completely lost.

Treatment of optic nerve atrophy

As we already know, this pathological process is often a complication of another eye disease. Therefore, after the cause is discovered, a complex treatment of the underlying disease is prescribed and measures are taken to prevent further development of optic nerve atrophy.

In the event that the pathological process has just begun and has not yet had time to develop, it is usually possible to cure the nerve and visual functions are restored within a period of two weeks to several months.

If, by the time the treatment begins, atrophy has developed sufficiently, it is completely impossible to cure the optic nerve, since the destroyed nerve fibers cannot be restored in our time. If the damage is partial, rehabilitation is still possible to improve vision. But, with a severe stage of complete damage, it is still impossible to cure atrophy and restore visual functions.

Treatment of eye atrophy consists in the use of drugs, drops, injections (general and local), the action of which is aimed at improving blood circulation in the optic nerve, reducing inflammation, as well as restoring those nerve fibers that have not yet been completely destroyed. Additionally, physiotherapy methods are used.

Drugs used in the treatment:

To improve the blood circulation of the optic nerve, vasodilators are used: Nicotinic acid, No-shpu, Papaverine and Dibazol. Also, patients are prescribed Complamin, Eufillin, Trental. And also Galidor and Sermion. For the same purpose, anticoagulant preparations are used: Ticlid and Heparin.

In order to restore metabolic and regenerative processes in the tissues of the affected nerve, patients are prescribed biogenic stimulants, in particular Vitreous, Peat and aloe preparations. Vitamins, amino acids, enzymes and immunostimulants are also prescribed.

To stop, reduce the inflammatory process, hormone therapy is often used with the help of Prednisolone and Dexamethasone.
In addition, complex treatment includes drugs aimed at normalizing the functioning of the central nervous system: Cerebrolysin, Phezam, as well as Emoxipin, Nootropil and Cavinton.

The doctor prescribes all the above and other medicines individually, after finding out the cause of the pathological process and diagnosing the underlying disease. This takes into account the degree of damage to the optic nerve, the age of the patient, his general condition and the presence of concomitant diseases.

In addition to drugs, physiotherapeutic methods and acupuncture are actively used. Apply methods of magnetic, laser and electrical stimulation of the optic nerve trunk. According to the indications, the patient may be recommended surgical treatment.

Complex therapy is prescribed in courses that are repeated every few months.

In conclusion of our conversation, it should be noted that optic nerve atrophy cannot be cured by non-traditional means. You will only lose time. The pathological process will progress, increasingly reducing the chances of successful treatment and restoration of vision.

Therefore, if you have the symptoms described above, or other symptoms indicating the development of pathology, do not waste precious time and make an appointment with an experienced ophthalmologist. With timely treatment, the chances of restoring vision are significantly increased. Be healthy!

More recently, optic nerve atrophy was considered an incurable disease and inevitably led to blindness. Now the situation has changed. The process of destruction of nerve cells can be stopped and thereby preserve the perception of the visual image.

Atrophy, which is the death of nerve fibers, leads to loss of vision. This is due to the fact that the cells lose the ability to conduct nerve impulses responsible for the transmission of the image. Timely access to a doctor will help stop the development of the disease and avoid blindness.

Classification of optic nerve atrophy

The death of nerve fibers in the visual organs has the following classification:

primary atrophy. It occurs due to disruptions in the nutrition of nerve fibers and circulatory disorders. The disease has an independent nature.
secondary atrophy. A mandatory factor in the existence of a disease is the presence of other diseases. In particular, these are deviations associated with the optic nerve head.
congenital atrophy. The tendency of the organism to the appearance of the disease is observed from birth.
glaucomatous atrophy. Vision remains at a stable level for a long time. The cause of the disease is vascular insufficiency of the cribriform plate as a result of increased intraocular pressure.
partial atrophy. Part of the optic nerve is affected, which ends the spread of the disease. Vision is deteriorating.
complete atrophy. The optic nerve is completely affected. If the development of the disease is not stopped, blindness may occur.
complete atrophy. The deviation has already formed. The spread of the disease stopped at a certain stage.
progressive atrophy. The rapid development of the atrophic process, which can lead to complete blindness.
descending atrophy. Irreversible changes in the optic nerves develop slowly.

An explanation of how partial atrophy differs from complete we see here:

It is important to correctly diagnose the disease in time to avoid consequences leading to blindness. In the early stages, atrophy is treated and vision can be stabilized.

Optic nerve atrophy ICD-10 code

H47.2 Optic nerve atrophy
Paleness of the temporal half of the optic disc

Causes of atrophy

Despite the fact that there are a lot of causes of optic nerve atrophy, in 20% of cases the exact factor that results in the development of the disease cannot be established. The most influential causes of atrophy include:

Pigmentary retinal dystrophy.
Inflammation of nerve tissues.
Defects of blood vessels located in the retina.
Increased intraocular pressure.
Spasmodic manifestations related to the vessels.
Purulent inflammation of the brain tissue.
Inflammation of the spinal cord.
Multiple sclerosis.
Diseases of an infectious type (from simple SARS to more serious diseases).
Malignant or benign tumors.
Various injuries.

Primary descending atrophy can be caused by hypertension, atherosclerosis, or deviations in the development of the spine. The causes of the secondary type of the disease are poisoning, inflammation and injury.

Why does atrophy occur in children

Children are not protected from the appearance of this disease. Optic nerve atrophy occurs in them for such reasons:

Genetic deviation.
Intrauterine and other types of poisoning.
Wrong course of pregnancy.
Hydrocephalus of the brain.
Deviations in the development of the central nervous system.
Diseases affecting the apple of the eye.
Skull deformed from birth.
Inflammatory processes in the brain.
The formation of tumors.

As we can see, the main causes of damage to the nerve cells of the visual organs in children are genetic abnormalities and the wrong way of life of the mother during pregnancy.

One case of infantile atrophy is presented in this commentary:

Symptoms of the disease

Consider the clinical picture for each type of atrophy. The primary form of this disease is characterized by the isolation of the boundaries of the nerves of the disc of the eye, which has acquired an in-depth look. The arteries inside the eye are constricted. With a secondary type of disease, the reverse process is noticeable. Nerve boundaries blur, and blood vessels dilate.

Congenital atrophy is accompanied by an inflammatory process behind the eyeball. In this case, it is impossible to focus vision without the occurrence of unpleasant sensations. The resulting image loses the sharpness of the lines and looks blurry.

A partial form of the disease reaches a certain stage of its development and stops developing. Its symptoms depend on the stage that the disease has reached. This form of atrophy can be indicated by partial loss of vision, flashes of light before the eyes, images of the type of hallucinations, the spread of blind spots and other deviations from the norm.

Common signs for all types of optic nerve atrophy are such manifestations:

Limitation of the functionality of the eyes.
External change of the visual disc.
If the capillaries in the macula are damaged, the disease affects central vision, which is reflected in the appearance of seals.
The field of view narrows.
The perception of color spectra changes. First of all, this problem is associated with green shades, and then with red ones.
If the nerve tissues of the periphery are affected, the eyes do not adapt well to changes in distance and illumination.

The main difference between partial and complete atrophy is the degree of reduction in visual acuity. In the first case, vision is preserved, but it deteriorates greatly. Complete atrophy implies the onset of blindness.

hereditary atrophy. Types and symptoms

Hereditary atrophy of the optic nerves has several forms of manifestation:

Infantile. Decreased vision in full occurs from 0 to 3 years. The disease is recessive.
Juvenile blindness. The optic disc turns pale. Vision is reduced to 0.1-0.2. The disease develops in the period from 2 to 7 years. She is dominant.
Opto-oto-diabetic syndrome. Appears in the age range from 2 to 20 years. Concomitant diseases - various types of diabetes, deafness, problems with urination, cataracts, pigmented retinal dystrophy.
Ber's syndrome. Severe disease, which is characterized by a decrease in vision in the first year of life to 0.1-0.05. Concomitant deviations - strabismus, symptoms of neurological disorders and mental retardation, damage to the organs of the pelvic region.
Atrophy depending on gender. In most cases, the disease develops in male children. From early childhood, it begins its manifestation and gradually worsens.
Lester's disease. The age from 13 to 30 years is the period in which the disease occurs in 90% of cases.

Symptoms

Hereditary atrophy develops in stages, despite its acute onset. Over a period of several hours to days, vision rapidly decreases. At first, defects in the optic disc are not noticeable. Then its boundaries lose their clarity, small vessels change in structure. A month later, the disk is cloudier on the side closer to the temple. In most cases, reduced vision remains with the patient for life. Only in 16% of patients it is restored. Irritability, nervousness, headaches, increased fatigue are those signs that indicate the development of hereditary atrophy of the optic nerve.

Diagnosis of optic nerve atrophy

Such studies help to identify the presence of atrophy:

Spheroperimetry - determination of the visual field.
Determination of the degree of visual acuity.
Examination of the fundus with a slit lamp.
Measurement of intraocular pressure.
Computer perimetry - helps to determine the damaged tissue area.
Dopplerography using laser equipment - shows the characteristics of blood vessels.

If a defect in the optic disc is detected, a brain examination is prescribed. An infectious lesion is detected after receiving the results of a blood test. Examinations and collection of data on symptomatic manifestations help to make an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment of optic nerve atrophy

The goal of treatment is to maintain the ability to see at the level that was noted at the time of detection of the disease. It is impossible to improve vision with atrophy of the optic nerves, since tissues that have died as a result of damage are not restored. Most often, ophthalmologists choose such a treatment regimen:

Stimulant drugs.
Drugs that dilate blood vessels. Among them are Papaverine and Noshpa.
tissue therapy. For these purposes, the use of vitamin B and intravenous administration of nicotinic acid are prescribed.
Medicines against atherosclerosis.
Drugs that regulate blood clotting. This may be Heparin or subcutaneous injections of ATP.
ultrasonic impact.
Reflex therapy in the form of acupuncture.
The use of trypsin enzymes.
Intramuscular administration of Pyrogenal.
The procedure of vagosympathetic blockade according to Vishnevsky. It is an injection of a 0.5% solution of Novocaine into the area of the carotid artery in order to dilate blood vessels and block sympathetic innervation.

If we talk about the use of physiotherapy techniques, then in addition to acupuncture, such methods of treatment are used:

Color and light stimulation.
Electrical and magnetic stimulation.
Massages to eliminate ischemic manifestations.
Meso- and ozone therapy.
Treatment with leeches (gerudotherapy).
Healing Fitness.
In some cases, blood transfusion is possible.

Here is a possible clinical picture with atrophy and a scheme for its treatment:

A complex of medical and physiotherapeutic measures helps to speed up the healing process. Treatment is aimed at improving metabolism and blood circulation. Spasms and thrombosis that disrupt these processes are eliminated.

Some cases of the disease provide for the possibility of surgical intervention. A medical preparation, the patient's own tissues or donor materials are placed in the retrobulbar space, which contribute to the restoration of damaged areas and the growth of new blood vessels. It is also possible to install an electrical stimulator. It remains in the orbit of the eye for several years. In most cases of treatment of a timely noticed disease, vision can be preserved.

Disease prevention

Measures that will minimize the risk of atrophy are a standard list:

Treat diseases of infectious origin in time.
Eliminate the possibility of injury to the brain and visual organs.
Visit the oncologist regularly to notice oncological diseases in time.
Avoid excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Track your blood pressure.

Periodic examination by an ophthalmologist will help to establish the presence of the disease in time and take measures to combat it. Timely treatment is a chance to avoid complete loss of vision.

Optic nerve atrophy is a disease in which there is a decrease in vision, sometimes to its complete loss. This happens when the nerve fibers that carry information about what a person sees from the retina of the eye to the visual part of the brain die partially or completely. Such a pathology can occur due to many reasons, because a person can encounter it at any age.

Important! Timely detection and treatment of the disease, if the death of the nerve is partial, helps to stop the loss of visual function and restore it. If the nerve has atrophied completely, then vision will not be restored.

The optic nerve is an afferent nerve fiber that runs from the retina to the occipital visual region of the brain. Thanks to this nerve, information about the picture seen by a person is read from the retina, and transmitted to the visual department, and in it it is already being transformed into a familiar image. When atrophy occurs, nerve fibers begin to die off and are replaced by connective tissue that looks like scar tissue. In this condition, the functioning of the capillaries that feed the nerve stops.

How is the disease classified?

According to the time of occurrence, there is congenital and acquired atrophy of the optic nerve. By localization, the pathology can be:

ascending - the layer of nerve fibers located on the retina of the eye is affected, and the lesion itself is sent to the brain;
descending - the visual part of the brain is affected, and the lesion is directed to the disk on the retina.

Depending on the degree of the lesion, atrophy can be:

initial - only some fibers are affected;
partial - the diameter of the nerve is affected;
incomplete - the lesion is common, but vision is not completely lost;
complete - the optic nerve dies, leading to a complete loss of visual function.

With a unilateral disease, one nerve is damaged, as a result of which it begins to see poorly in one eye. When the nerves of the two eyes are affected, they speak of bilateral atrophy. According to the stability of the visual function, the pathology can be stationary, in which visual acuity falls and then stays at the same level, and progressive, when vision becomes worse.

Why can the optic nerve atrophy

The causes of optic nerve atrophy are varied. The congenital form of the disease in children occurs due to genetic pathologies such as Leber's disease. In this case, partial atrophy of the optic nerve most often occurs. The acquired form of pathology occurs due to various diseases of a systemic and ophthalmic nature. Nerve death can occur due to:

compression of the vessels feeding the nerve or the nerve itself by a neoplasm in the skull;
myopia;
atherosclerosis leading to plaques in the vessels;
thrombosis of nerve vessels; v
inflammation of the vascular walls during syphilis or vasculitis;
violations of the structure of blood vessels due to diabetes mellitus or high blood pressure;
eye injury;
intoxication of the body during respiratory viral infections, with the use of large doses of alcohol, drugs or due to excessive smoking.

The ascending form of the disease occurs with eye diseases such as glaucoma and myopia. Causes of descending optic nerve atrophy:

retrobulbar neuritis;
traumatic damage to the place where the optic nerves cross;
neoplasm in the pituitary gland of the brain.

Unilateral disease occurs due to diseases of the eyes or orbits, as well as from the initial stage of cranial diseases. Both eyes can immediately suffer from atrophy due to:

intoxications;
syphilis;
neoplasms in the skull;
poor blood circulation in the vessels of the nerve during atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension.

What is the clinical picture of the disease

Symptoms of optic nerve atrophy depend on the form of the disease. When this disease occurs, vision cannot be corrected with glasses. The most common symptom is decreased visual acuity. The second symptom is a change in the fields of visual function. On this basis, the doctor can understand how deeply the lesion has arisen.

The patient develops "tunnel vision", that is, a person sees as he would see if he put a tube to his eye. Peripheral (lateral) vision is lost and the patient sees only those objects that are directly in front of him. In most cases, such vision is accompanied by scotomas - dark spots in any part of the visual field. Later, a disorder of color perception begins, the patient first ceases to distinguish between green, then red.

With damage to nerve fibers that are concentrated as close as possible to the retina or directly in it, dark spots appear in the center of the visible image. With a deeper lesion, half of the image from the side of the nose or temple may disappear, depending on which side the lesion occurred. With secondary atrophy that has arisen due to any ophthalmic disease, the following symptoms occur:

the veins of the eyes dilate;
the vessels constrict;
the boundaries of the optic nerve area become smoothed;
retinal disc becomes pale.

Important! If even a slight clouding appears in the eye (or both eyes), it is necessary to visit an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. Only by detecting the disease in time, it is possible to stop it at the stage of partial atrophy and restore vision, preventing complete atrophy.

What are the features of pathology in children

With a congenital form of the disease, it can be determined that the baby's pupils react poorly to light. When a child grows up, parents may notice that he does not react to an object brought to him from a certain side.

Important! A child under two or three years of age may not report that he or she has poor vision, and older children who have a congenital problem may not be aware that they can see differently. That is why it is necessary that the child be examined by an ophthalmologist annually, even if there are no symptoms visible to the parent.

Parents should take the child to the doctor if he rubs his eyes or unconsciously tilts his head to one side, trying to see something. The forced tilt of the head to some extent compensates for the function of the affected nerve and slightly sharpens vision. The main clinical picture of optic nerve atrophy in a child is the same as in an adult.

If diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, provided that the disease is not genetic, during which the nerve fibers are completely replaced by fibrous tissue even during fetal development, then the prognosis for the restoration of the optic nerve in children is more favorable than in adult patients.

How the disease is diagnosed

Diagnosis of atrophy of the optic nerve is carried out by an ophthalmologist, and primarily includes an examination of the fundus and the determination of visual fields using computer peripetry. It also determines which colors the patient can distinguish. Instrumental methods of diagnosis include:

x-ray of the cranium;
Magnetic resonance imaging;
angiography of the vessels of the eye;
video ophthalmological examination;
Ultrasound of the vessels of the head.

Thanks to these studies, it is possible not only to identify the death of the optic nerve, but also to understand why it happened. It may also be necessary to consult related specialists.

How is optic nerve atrophy treated?

How to treat atrophy of the optic nerve should be decided by the doctor based on the studies. It should be noted right away that the treatment of this disease is very difficult, because nerve tissues regenerate very poorly. It is necessary to carry out complex systematic therapy, which should take into account the cause of the pathology, its prescription, the age of the patient, and his general condition. If some process inside the skull led to the death of the nerve (for example, a tumor or inflammation), then the treatment should be started by a neurosurgeon and a neuropathologist.

Medication treatment

With the help of drugs, you can increase blood circulation and nerve trophism, as well as stimulate the vital activity of healthy nerve fibers. Medical treatment includes taking:

vasodilators - No-Shpy and Dibazol;
vitamin B;
biogenic stimulants, for example, aloe extract;
drugs that improve microcirculation, such as Eufillin and Trental;
steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Hydrocortisone and Dexamethasone;
antibacterial drugs, if atrophy has an infectious-bacterial pathogenesis.

In addition, physical therapy procedures to stimulate the optic nerve, such as laser stimulation, magnetic therapy, or electrophoresis, may be required.

Microsurgical treatment is aimed at eliminating the compression of the nerve, as well as at increasing the diameter of the vessels that feed it. Conditions can also be created in which new vessels can grow. Surgery can only help with partial atrophy, if the nerves die off completely, then even through surgery it is impossible to restore visual function.

Treatment with folk remedies

Treatment of optic nerve atrophy with folk remedies is permissible only at the initial stage of the disease, but it is not aimed at improving vision, but at eliminating the root cause of the disease.

Important! Self-medication without prior medical consultation can only aggravate the situation and lead to irreversible consequences.

If the disease is caused by high blood pressure, then plants with antihypertensive properties are used in therapy:

astragalus woolly-flowered;
small periwinkle;
hawthorn (flowers and fruits);
chokeberry;
Baikal skullcap (root);
Dahurian black cohosh;
large-flowered magnolia (leaves);
drier dryer.

Blueberries are useful for vision, they contain many vitamins, as well as anthocyanosides, which have a positive effect on the visual apparatus. For treatment, you need to mix one kilogram of fresh berries with one and a half kilograms of sugar and refrigerate. This mixture is taken in half a glass for a month. The course must be repeated twice a year, which will benefit even with good vision.

If dystrophic processes occur in the retina of the eye, especially those occurring against the background of low blood pressure, then tinctures will be useful, for the preparation of which are used:

leaves of Chinese magnolia vine;
lure roots;
leuzea;
ginseng;
eleutherococcus;
sea buckthorn (fruits and pollen).

If incomplete necrosis of the nerves occurs or senile degenerative changes occur in the eyes, then anti-sclerotic plants should be taken:

orange;
cherry;
hawthorn;
cabbage;
corn;
seaweed;
dandelion;
chokeberry;
garlic and onion.

Useful properties have carrots (contains a lot of carotene) and beets (rich in zinc)

What is the prognosis for optic nerve atrophy and its prevention

When diagnosing and starting therapy at an early stage of development, it is possible to maintain and even slightly increase visual acuity, as well as expand its fields. No treatment can fully restore visual function. If the disease progresses and there is no treatment, then this leads to disability due to complete blindness.

In order to prevent the necrosis of nerve fibers, it is necessary to undergo timely treatment of ophthalmic diseases, as well as diseases of the endocrine, neurological, infectious and rheumatological nature. Very important in prevention is the prevention of intoxication damage to the body.

A rapid decrease in vision may indicate various eye diseases. But rarely does anyone think that it can be caused by such a dangerous disease as optic nerve atrophy. The optic nerve is an important component in the perception of light information. Therefore, it is worth considering this disease in more detail so that it is possible to determine the symptoms in the early stages.

What it is?

The optic nerve is a nerve fiber responsible for processing and transmitting light information. The main function of the optic nerve is the delivery of nerve impulses to the region of the brain.

The optic nerve is attached to the ganglionic neurocytes of the retina, which make up the optic nerve head. Light rays, converted into a nerve impulse, are transmitted along the optic nerve from retinal cells to the chiasm (the segment where the optic nerves of both eyes intersect).

Where is the optic nerve

Its integrity provides high. However, even the smallest injury to the optic nerve can lead to serious consequences. The most common disease of the optic nerve is its atrophy.

Optic nerve atrophy is an eye disease in which degradation of the optic nerve occurs, followed by a decrease in vision. With this disease, the optic nerve fibers completely or partially die off and are replaced by connective tissue. As a result, the light rays falling on the retina of the eye are converted into an electrical signal with distortions, which narrows the field of view and reduces its quality.

Depending on the degree of damage, atrophy of the optic nerve is partial or complete. Partial atrophy of the optic nerve differs from complete atrophy by a less pronounced manifestation of the disease and the preservation of vision at a certain level.

Vision correction by traditional methods (, contact lenses) for this disease is absolutely ineffective, since they are aimed at correcting the refraction of the eye and have nothing to do with the optic nerve.

Causes

Optic nerve atrophy is not an independent disease, but is a consequence of any pathological process in the patient's body.

optic nerve atrophy

The main causes of the disease include:

Eye diseases (diseases of the retina, eyeball, eye structures).
Pathologies of the central nervous system (brain damage due to syphilis, brain abscess, skull trauma, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, encephalitis, meningitis, arachnoiditis).
Diseases of the cardiovascular system (atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels, arterial hypertension, vasospasm).
Long-term toxic effects of alcohol, nicotine and drugs. Alcohol poisoning with methyl alcohol.
hereditary factor.

Optic nerve atrophy can be congenital or acquired.

Congenital atrophy of the optic nerve occurs as a result of genetic diseases (in most cases, Leber's disease). In this case, the patient has a poor quality of vision from birth.

Acquired atrophy of the optic nerve appears due to certain diseases at an older age.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of partial atrophy of vision can be:

Deterioration of the quality of vision and the inability to correct it with traditional methods of correction.
Pain on moving the eyeballs.
Changing the perception of colors.
Narrowing of the visual fields (up to the manifestation of a tunnel syndrome, in which the ability to peripheral vision is completely lost).
The appearance of blind areas in the field of view (scotomas).

Laser vision correction methods can be seen in.

Stages of optic nerve atrophy

Diagnostics

Usually, the diagnosis of this disease does not cause much difficulty. As a rule, the patient notices a significant decrease in vision and turns to an ophthalmologist who establishes the correct diagnosis. Of great importance is the identification of the cause of the disease.

To detect atrophy of the optic nerve in a patient, a complex of diagnostic methods is performed:

(study of visual acuity).
Spheroperimetry (determination of visual fields).
Ophthalmoscopy (detection of blanching of the optic disc and narrowing of the vessels of the fundus).
Tonometry (measurement of intraocular pressure).
Video ophthalmography (examination of the relief of the optic nerve).
(examination of areas of the affected nerve).
Computed tomography and magnetic nuclear resonance (a study of the brain to identify possible causes that caused atrophy of the optic nerve).

Read what computer perimetry in ophthalmology determines.

In addition to an ophthalmological examination, the patient may be prescribed an examination by a neuropathologist or neurosurgeon. This is necessary for the reason that the symptoms of optic nerve atrophy may be symptoms of an incipient intracranial pathological process.

Treatment

Treatment of optic nerve atrophy is quite complicated. Destroyed nerve fibers cannot be restored, therefore, first of all, it is necessary to stop the process of changes in the tissues of the optic nerve. Since the nervous tissue of the optic nerve cannot be restored, visual acuity cannot be raised to its previous level. However, the disease must be treated to avoid its progression and the occurrence of blindness. The prognosis of the disease depends on the start of treatment, so it is advisable to immediately contact an ophthalmologist when the first symptoms of the disease are detected.

The difference between partial atrophy of the optic nerve and complete atrophy is that this form of the disease is treatable and it is still possible to restore vision. The main goal in the treatment of partial optic nerve atrophy is to stop the destruction of the tissues of the optic nerve.

The main efforts should be aimed at eliminating. Treatment of the underlying disease will stop the destruction of the tissues of the optic nerve and restore visual function.

Against the background of treatment of the underlying disease that caused atrophy of the optic nerve, complex therapy is carried out. Additionally, in the treatment, drugs can be used to improve blood supply and nutrition of the optic nerve, improve metabolism, eliminate swelling and inflammation. It will not be superfluous to use multivitamins and biostimulants.

As the main drugs use:

Vasodilator drugs. These drugs improve blood circulation and trophism in the tissues of the optic nerve. Complamin, papaverine, dibazol, no-shpu, halidor, eufillin, trental, sermion can be distinguished among the drugs of this group.
Drugs that stimulate the restoration of altered tissues of the optic nerve and improve metabolic processes in it. These include biogenic stimulants (peat, aloe extract), amino acids (glutamic acid), vitamins and immunostimulants (eleuthorococcus, ginseng).
Drugs that resolve pathological processes and metabolism stimulants (phosphaden, pyrogenal, preductal).

It must be understood that drug therapy does not cure optic nerve atrophy, but only improves the condition of the nerve fibers. To cure optic nerve atrophy, it is necessary to first cure the underlying disease.

Physiotherapeutic procedures are also important, which are used in combination with other methods of treatment. Also, methods of magnetic, laser and electrical stimulation of the optic nerve are effective. They help to improve the functional state of the optic nerve and visual functions.

As an additional treatment, the following procedures are used:

Magnetostimulation. In this procedure, the optic nerve is affected by a special device that creates an alternating magnetic field. Magnetostimulation helps to improve blood supply, saturate the tissues of the optic nerve with oxygen, and activate metabolic processes.
Electrical stimulation. This procedure is carried out using a special electrode, which is inserted behind the eyeball to the optic nerve and electrical impulses are applied to it.
Laser stimulation. The essence of this method is non-invasive stimulation of the optic nerve through the cornea or pupil using a special emitter.
ultrasound therapy. This method effectively stimulates blood circulation and metabolic processes in the tissues of the optic nerve, improves the permeability of the hematoophthalmic barrier and the sorption properties of eye tissues. If the cause of optic nerve atrophy is encephalitis or tuberculous meningitis, then the disease will be quite difficult to treat with ultrasound.
Electrophoresis. This procedure is characterized by the effect on the tissues of the eye of a direct current of low power and medicines. Electrophoresis promotes the expansion of blood vessels, improves cell metabolism and normalizes metabolism.
Oxygen therapy. This method consists in saturating the tissues of the optic nerve with oxygen, which helps to improve their metabolic processes.

During the treatment of optic nerve atrophy, it is imperative to observe the full quality of nutrition, saturated with various vitamins and minerals. It is necessary to use fresh vegetables and fruits, cereals, meat, dairy products more often.

What products improve eyesight, see.

It is not recommended to treat the disease with folk remedies, since in this case they are ineffective. If you rely only on folk remedies, you can lose precious time, when you could still save the quality of vision.

Complications

It must be remembered that optic nerve atrophy is a serious disease and should not be treated on its own. Improper self-treatment can lead to sad consequences - complications of the disease.

The most serious complication can be complete loss of vision. Ignoring treatment leads to further development of the disease and a steady decrease in visual acuity, as a result of which the patient will no longer be able to lead a former lifestyle. Very often, with atrophy of the optic nerve, the patient receives a disability.

Prevention

To avoid the occurrence of optic nerve atrophy, it is necessary to treat diseases in a timely manner, contact an ophthalmologist in time with a decrease in visual acuity, and not expose the body to alcohol and drug intoxication. Only if you treat your health with due attention can you reduce the risk of disease.

Video

Under the atrophy of the optic nerve understand the gradual death of the optic nerve and its replacement with connective tissue. A whole group of various pathological conditions can lead to this disease. From what degree of damage to the optic nerve and how much vision is reduced, partial or complete atrophy of the optic nerve is distinguished. With partial atrophy, residual vision is preserved, but color perception suffers, visual fields are narrowed, it cannot be corrected with glasses or lenses. However, the process stops there.

Causes of the disease

Causes of incomplete atrophy of the optic nerve can be:

Eye diseases (damage to the retina, optic nerve fibers, glaucoma, inflammatory diseases, myopia, compression of the optic nerve by a tumor);

Brain damage with;

Infectious diseases (meningitis, encephalitis, arachnoiditis, brain);

Diseases of the central nervous, cardiovascular systems (multiple sclerosis, granulomas, cerebral vessels, cysts, hypertension);

Burdened heredity;

Various intoxications, poisoning with alcohol surrogates;

Consequences of trauma.

There are the following types of disease:

Congenital atrophy - manifests itself at birth or a short period of time after the birth of a child.

Acquired atrophy - is a consequence of diseases of an adult.

Symptoms of partial atrophy of the optic nerve

Manifestations of the disease can have varying degrees of severity. The main manifestations of partial atrophy of the optic nerve will be:

Decreased visual acuity;

The appearance of pain when trying to move the eyeballs;

Narrowing or loss of visual fields, may be before the appearance of tunnel syndrome (a person sees only what is directly in front of the eyes and nothing on the sides);

Blind spots (scotomas) appear.

Diagnosis of the disease

Usually the diagnosis of the disease is not difficult. With a decrease in vision, a person most often turns to an ophthalmologist himself, who makes the correct diagnosis, prescribing treatment.

When examining the optic nerve, the doctor will certainly see changes in the nerve disk and its blanching. To clarify the diagnosis, more detailed studies of visual functions are prescribed, visual fields are studied, intraocular pressure is measured, fluorescent angiographic, radiological, electrophysiological studies are used. It is very important to find the cause of the disease, because in some situations the patient will need to undergo surgery.

Treatment of partial atrophy of the optic nerve

The prognosis for the treatment of partial atrophy of the optic nerve is favorable. The main goal of treatment is to stop the change in the tissues of the optic nerve so that what is left can be preserved. It is impossible to completely restore visual acuity, but without treatment, the disease will lead to blindness. The main method of therapy will depend on what is the cause of the atrophy of the optic nerve.

Drugs that are used in treatment are drugs to improve the blood supply to the nerve, improve metabolism, vasodilators, multivitamins, biostimulants. These funds reduce swelling, inflammation in the area of the optic nerve head, improve its nutrition, blood supply, stimulate the activity of the remaining nerve fibers.

If the patient needs surgical treatment, then it will be the main method of therapy. The emphasis is on the treatment of the underlying disease, the elimination of the cause, which led to partial atrophy of the optic nerve. To achieve a better result, magneto-, electro-, laser stimulation of the optic nerve, ultrasound, electrophoresis, oxygen therapy can be prescribed. The earlier treatment is started, the better the prognosis of the disease. Nervous tissue is practically unrecoverable, so the disease cannot be started, it must be treated in a timely manner.

Prognosis for optic nerve atrophy

Any disease, if its treatment is started as early as possible, is better amenable to therapy. The same can be said about optic nerve atrophy. With timely treatment, it is possible to restore the nerve, avoid consequences and preserve vision. An advanced disease can lead to blindness, therefore, at the first signs of a decrease in visual acuity, narrowing of the visual fields, changes in color perception, you should immediately contact an ophthalmologist. And the doctor will do everything possible in the treatment to save your vision with your help.

Expert editor: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich| MD general practitioner

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. I. M. Sechenov, specialty - "Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".