Pressure in Optic Nerve: Its Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
The optic nerve is the carrier of sensory nerve impulses from the retina toward the visual centers in the brain.
It is also known as the second cranial nerve.
Any type of damage to the optic nerve can result in vision problems and even blindness.
In 2020, 79.6 million people were diagnosed with Glaucoma, whose prime cause is optic nerve damage.
One of the many reasons for optic nerve damage is pressure or compression.
The pressure in the optic nerve occurs when a mass develops in the brain and presses on it.
Here, the mass might be a tumor, a collection of pus, or some other kind of fluid.
Read on to learn more about pressure in optic nerve.
Pressure in Optic Nerve Symptoms
There are not one but many symptoms that you may notice when there is a pressure buildup in your optic nerve.
Blurred vision
Having a cloudy or blurry vision is the most common symptom related to sight that people with vision difficulties report.
You can notice the same when you have high optic nerve pressure.
It happens when you can’t see correctly, and it isn’t easy to focus on things.
Loss of peripheral vision
You can see the peripheral vision from the corner of your eyes without moving your head.
When you face difficulties in seeing things that are not in your eye’s focus, it might be due to pressure in the optic nerve.
Double vision
Double vision happens when you see two images instead of one for the same thing.
It can either occur in one or both eyes simultaneously.
The same can occur in people with intense optic nerve pressure.
Also Read: You can learn some exercises for double vision with, A Tutorial to Eye Exercises for Double Vision.
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are unexplained symptoms of pressure in the optic nerve. You may or may not have these symptoms.
You may have these symptoms, like in Papilledema, primarily caused by the increased pressure in the optic nerve, resulting in swelling.
Increased blind spot
Each eye has a little area behind it known as the blind spot. The blind spot is where the optic nerve exits the eyes after passing through the optic disc.
Suppose there are some difficulties with the optic nerve, such as increased pressure or damage. Then it may lead to an increase in the blind spot.
Causes of Pressure in Optic Nerve
Brain cancer
Brain cancer may cause pressure in the optic nerve due to the brain tumor.
If the size of the brain tumor is large and it exerts enough pressure on the optic nerve, then it may lead to blindness also.
Trauma
Trauma can happen because of direct injury to the brain due to accidents, sports, and other mishaps.
This can create sudden pressure on the optic nerve and damage it.
Brain abscess
It is a pus-filled swelling in the brain. This happens after an infection or severe head injury.
The microbial agents enter the brain tissue and cause pus.
This pus can create pressure in the optic nerve.
Also Read: You can go through the article, What Causes Optic Nerve Damage?
Diagnosis of Pressure in Optic Nerve
The pressure in the optic nerve can be diagnosed with some of the tests listed below:
Pupillary light reflex test
This test checks if your optic nerve is in the proper condition or has specific abnormalities.
In this, your ophthalmologist will shine a flashlight into each eye.
Then the doctor will notice the direct as well as the consensual constriction of the pupils.
If the pupil doesn’t respond much, there may be some issue with the optic nerve.
Fundoscopy
In this, a magnifying glass is used to check the fundus of your eye.
The fundus includes the retina and the optic nerve.
Photographs of your optic disk, the anterior portion of your optic nerve, may be obtained for future reference and comparison.
Visual acuity test
In this test, your ophthalmologist asks you to read some letters from a card or board held 20 feet away from you.
This can help evaluate your ability to see and examine the symptom of blurred vision.
Visual field test
As the name suggests, ‘visual’ means something that can be seen, and ‘field’ roughly means area.
Thus, this test determines the area your eyes can cover or see.
In this, peripheral vision is mainly tested to check for vision loss symptoms.
MRI
An MRI can also be used for the diagnosis. It is better than any other ocular imaging device for getting information about the eye.
In this, it can be checked whether the nerve has been squeezed.
Treatment for Pressure in Optic Nerve
The treatment for the pressure in the optic nerve depends on the cause of the pressure. You can be treated in the following ways:
Endoscopic endonasal approach
In this treatment, your surgeon will go through the nose and operate on the area of your brain.
The surgeon can treat optic nerve causes like tumors, injuries, or any accumulation of pus or other fluids.
This treatment is way quicker and safer than other surgery options.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy can be used to treat brain tumors.
In this, the brain cancer cells are killed with the therapy—which helps in controlling the growth of some kinds of brain tumors.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are the preferred treatment for infections in the brain.
The antibiotics may be given for a prolonged period of 4-8 weeks.
It helps in reducing the pus accumulated swelling due to brain abscess.
Takeaway
The pressure in the optic nerve can be caused due to several reasons like tumors, pus, or other fluid accumulation in the brain.
The primary reasons are trauma, brain cancer, and brain abscess.
A proper diagnosis is made to check peripheral vision, blurred vision, and other symptoms.
The treatment to reduce the pressure in the optic nerve depends on the cause.
Endoscopic endonasal approach, radiation therapy, and antibiotics are some ways to treat the cause of pressure in the optic nerve.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you relieve pressure in the optic nerve?
Due to the severe causes of pressure in the optic nerve, the most common treatment option is surgery. The endoscopic endonasal approach is used for the treatment through your nose to the area of your brain.
Can stress cause pressure on the optic nerve?
An average level of stress won’t cause pressure on the optic nerve. However, chronic stress can create pressure inside your eyes and even put you at risk of optic nerve damage.
What causes high optic nerve pressure?
A buildup of tumors, pus, or other fluids in the brain can cause high optic nerve pressure. The size of these substances also plays a pivotal role in creating pressure on the optic nerve.
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