Optic Neuropathies Flashcards
what type of injury is most likely to occur in the intraocular section of the optic nerve?
vascular insult
what type of injury is most likely to occur in the intraorbital section of the optic nerve?
muscle engorgement or tumors
what type of injury is most likely to occur in the intracanalicular section of the optic nerve?
trauma/fractures and sinus inflammation
what type of injury is most likely to occur in the intracranial section of the optic nerve?
pituitary gland and circle of willis
what is the blood supply to the pre-laminar region?
short posterior ciliary artery
what is the blood supply to the lamina cribrosa?
short posterior ciliary artery and circle of zinn haller
what is the blood supply to the retro-laminar region?
branches of the central retinal artery and pial vessels
what are the three conditions that can cause optic nerve shunt/collateral vessels?
optic nerve sheath meningioma, CRVO, and chronic glaucoma
what are the hallmark signs of an optic neuropathy?
VA loss, RAPD, dyschromatopsia, VF defect, reduced contrast sensitivity, +/- optic disc appearance, and abnormal VEP
what is typical optic neuritis?
autoimmune condition = primary demyelination of the optic nerve myelin sheath
what is the pattern of VA loss in typical optic neuritis?
progresses over 1 week and improvement begins by 1 month
what is the typical demographic for typical optic neuritis?
young adults (18-46), female > male, and no history of systemic disease
what type of swelling does typical optic neuritis have?
2/3 of cases are retrobulbar
what are the VF defects for typical optic neuritis?
any pattern is possible (diffuse is most common)
what are 4 associated signs with typical optic neuritis?
numbness in hands, problems in bladder control, pulfrich phenomenon, and uthoff sign
what did the optic neuritis treatment trial (ONTT) conclude?
high does IV steroids accelerated visual recovery, oral steroids alone increased rate of recurrence and IV steroids reduced risk of MS development for 2 years
why is an MRI useful in patients who have typical optic neuritis?
it can identify patients who are at higher risk of developing MS
what did the longitudinal optic neuritis study (LONS) conclude?
the initial MRI is the most predictive factor for developing MS after ON, the 15 year overall risk was 50% (females > males)
what did the CHAMPS study conclude?
the medication Avonex (interferon therapy) reduced risk of development of MS and T2 lesions
which medication for MS is oral and has CME as a side effect?
Gilenya - can cause CME 3-6 months after starting medication (need OCT at the start and after 4 months)
what blood test is used to check for MS?
oligoclonal bands (immunoglobulins) present in CSF indicate inflammation in CNS (79-90% of MS patients have bands)
what is atypical optic neuritis?
a systemic infection or inflammatory cause
what is the presentation for atypical optic neuritis?
ages 50, bilateral, lack of pain, uveitis, retinal exudates/infiltrates, optic nerve swelling, hemorrhages, VA worsens past 1 week
what is the most common symptom in typical optic neuritis?
90% has pain with EOM movements
what are the causes of atypical optic neuritis?
connective tissue disease (lupus, sjogrens, bechet), infectious (lyme, syphilis), infiltrative (sarcoidosis, cancer)
what is neuromyelitis optica (NMO) - Devic’s syndrome?
unilateral or bilateral optic neuritis + inflammation of spinal cord (limb weakness)
what is the typical age for NMO?
average age is 39 (can affect children)
what causes NMO?
NMO antibodies (NMO IgG) target aquaporin 4 - NMO IgG is found in astrocytes and around the blood brain barrier
how is NMO different from MS?
NMO has more severe attacks, includes spinal cord, MRI is normal, no CSF oligoclonal bands, and usually has an autoimmune disease coexisting
what is transverse myelitis?
focal inflammatory disorder of the spinal cord - has numbness and paresthesias (peripheral limbs)
may progress to MS
what is acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)?
post-infectious encephalomyelitis (fever, nausea, vomiting, vertigo)
typically children status-post viral infection or immunization
MRI = extensive lesions in basal ganglia and thalamus
what is non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)?
ischemic, non-inflammatory vascular insult to the pre-laminar and retro-laminar optic nerve (posterior ciliary artery involved)
what is the typical clinical presentation for NAION?
acute, painless VA loss (mild-severe), older patients (>55 and males>females) with cardiovascular risk factors, and a disc at risk (smaller)
what is the optic nerve appearance in NAION?
hyperemic edema (acute state), flame hemorrhages, +/- macular star and disc pallor develops 2-3 weeks after initial insult
what is the typical VF defect in NAION?
altitudinal
is NAION unilateral or bilateral?
starts unilateral - can become bilateral sequentially
what causes NAION?
chronic HTN causes an alteration in autoregulatory response - vasodilation fails with decreased BP and ischemia to PCA results in decreased optic nerve perfusion
what is the treatment for NAION?
monitor 2-4 weeks, if VA or VF is still worsening then needs additional work-up
what is arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (AION)?
inflammation of elastic tissue in arterial walls in vessel occlusion and causes ischemia (systemic inflammatory condition of the medium sized vessels all over the body)
affects the ophthalmic artery
what is the typical demographic for AION?
65+, females > males, bilateral within 1-2 days, 50% have polymyalgia rheumatica
why is AION an ophthalmic emergency?
the whole eye looses blood supply and will result in complete blindness
what are some symptoms of AION?
severe VA loss, scalp tenderness, jaw claudication, mild fever, weight loss, arthralgias/myalgias
what are the signs for AION?
pallid optic nerve swelling, no hemorrhages, extensive cotton wool spots, preceded by episodes of TIA
what is the treatment for AION?
needs STAT IV steroids for 3-5 days, temporal artery biopsy, Labs: ESR and CRP
what is giant cell arthritis (CGA)?
systemic vasculitis of medium/large arteries, self-limiting but may persist for years, oral steroids protect surviving optic nerve
what do you have to rule out in patients with NAION under age 40?
DM, HTN, hyperlipidemia, elevated homocysteine, vasculitides (SLE, Wegener’s), coagulopathy and perform blood work
what causes posterior ischemic optic neuropathy?
most commonly = post-surgical (especially long procedures with severe blood loss)
or a spontaneous cause (GCA, athersclerosis, radiation)
what are the symptoms of posterior ischemic optic neuropathy?
patient recovers consciousness and discovers poor VA in one or both eyes
what are the signs of posterior ischemic optic neuropathy?
initially the optic disc is normal - then pallor develops 4-6 weeks after (if there is - APD then suspect bilateral posterior cerebral artery infarction)
what is diabetic papillopathy?
a milder form of NAION in diabetic patients - the vision is typically unaffected
what is a hallmark sign of diabetic papillopathy (more than in NAION)?
hyperemic disc swelling with dilated pre-laminar vessels (will also see diabetic retinopathy - dot/blot hemorrhages)
what is papilledema?
optic nerve edema caused by raised intracranial pressure - need to confirm with lumbar puncture
what is stage 1 of papilledema?
very early = incomplete C-shaped peripapillary halo, no elevation, blurring of superior/inferior and nasal aspects and normal temporal disc
what is stage 2 of papilledema?
early = blurring or all borders, complete peripapillary halo (360), elevation of nasal border
what is stage 3 of papilledema?
moderate = increased ONH diameter, partial obstruction of vessels at disc margin, peripapillary halo with finger-like projections