Patient's question:
Optic atrophy can cause the eyeball to shrink. I'd like to ask, to what extent will it shrink?Doctor's answer:
Optic atrophy is a serious eye disease that results in vision loss or blindness due to degeneration and conduction dysfunction of optic nerve fibers under various etiologic influences. The etiology is highly complex, and treatment is extremely challenging. The clinical manifestations of optic atrophy include: pallor or whitening of the optic disc, varying degrees and rates of vision decline, concentric constriction or defects in the visual field, hemianopia, or even complete loss of optic nerve function.There are many causes of optic atrophy. Generally, common etiologies include degeneration, inflammation, and atrophy of the retina and choroid, which can all lead to optic atrophy, such as retinitis pigmentosa and high myopia. Demyelinating diseases of the optic nerve, such as multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis, can also cause it. Inflammation, including optic neuritis, retrobulbar neuritis, meningitis, and sepsis. Ischemic conditions, such as central retinal artery occlusion, insufficient or blocked intracranial arterial blood supply, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, systemic lupus erythematosus, massive hemorrhage, and low-tension glaucoma. Long-term optic disc edema. Toxicity and malnutrition, such as lead, arsenic, benzene, methanol, ethanol, tobacco, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, quinine, organophosphates, and ethambutol. Malnutrition, such as pernicious anemia caused by a deficiency of B vitamins. Compression, such as intracranial or orbital tumor compression, early closure of congenital cranial sutures, or compression from fracture fragments of the optic canal. Genetic diseases, most commonly Leber's congenital amaurosis. Tumors, including primary and metastatic tumors of the optic nerve. Syphilis. Trauma, direct contusion of the optic nerve. Various types of glaucoma.