Eye changes in brain cancer patients with increased intracranial pressure

Brain cancer is a central nervous system tumor that is extremely harmful to the human body. As the tumor continues to grow and expand, the limited space in the cranial cavity will become smaller due to the infiltration and spread of the tumor, which can then cause high intracranial pressure. In addition to severe headaches, projectile vomiting, and impaired consciousness, patients will also experience a series of changes in their eyes, seriously affecting their quality of life.

1. Diplopia: Under the premise of normal retinal correspondence, an image falls on non-corresponding points of the retina that are too far apart, which will not form binocular single vision, and the patient will see one object as two. When an intracranial tumor occurs, the abducens nerve has a long course in the skull and is easily pulled or squeezed by intracranial hypertension, resulting in diplopia, and the patient will see one object as two objects.

2. Fundus examination: When intracranial hypertension occurs, the cerebrospinal fluid pressure increases, and the cerebrospinal fluid pressure in the optic nerve sheath also increases, which increases the pressure in the optic nerve tissue and causes stagnation of axoplasm flow, which manifests as swelling of nerve fibers in the optic disc and optic disc, tortuosity and engorgement of venous fundus, and spasm of arterioles. Severe papilledema can lead to secondary optic atrophy.

3. Protruding eyeballs: Increased intracranial pressure acts on the orbit through the superior orbital fissure. The cavernous sinus is affected by the intracranial high pressure and hinders the return of the orbital vein. The ophthalmic vein is stagnant in its original position, so the patient may have obvious protrusion of both eyes.

4. Changes in visual field: As the tumor expands, the pressure caused by cerebral edema intensifies, which can lead to optic nerve atrophy. The patient's visual field also undergoes tremendous changes, manifested as an enlargement of the blind spot and a reduction in the centripetal visual field. The patient's vision is blurred, as if there is a curtain in front of his eyes, and may be accompanied by headaches and even impaired consciousness.