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:

• Friedrichs ataxia (battle 30.6)
• Lebers optic atrophy (battle 46.3)
• DMOAD (=diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness)
• retinitis pigmentosa (battle 30.1)

Acquired:

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