Saturday 20 November 2010

MRCP revision battle 55.7: Optic atrophy

Optic atrophy is loss of fibres of the optic disc.  It is characterised by decreased vision (particulary loss of colour vision) and a pale disc on fundoscopy.


Causes include:


Congenital:

Acquired:
  • MS
  • papilloedema
  • glaucoma
  • ischaemia
  • B6, B12, folate deficieny
  • lead poisoning
  • arsenic poisoning
  • methanol
  • ethambutol
  • isoniazid
  • chloramphenicol