What is binocular optic neuropathy

Predictably, many patients who suffer from optic neuropathy have little idea of ​​what binocular optic neuropathy actually is. In order to allow most patients and those who need to understand binocular optic neuropathy, and to understand and master more common knowledge about visual neuropathy, we must start with the basic symptoms and causes of binocular optic neuropathy.

1. What is optic neuropathy?

1. Age of onset: generally after middle age.

2. Bilateral onset: Usually both eyes are affected simultaneously or successively. The interval between the two eyes can be several weeks to several years, or even more than ten years. Recurrence is rare.

3. Sudden onset: Generally, the onset of the disease is sudden and the patient can often clearly point out the date of onset.

4. Main symptoms: Sudden visual dysfunction in one or both eyes that gradually worsens over the next few days or weeks.

5. Rare symptoms: Patients rarely experience swelling or pain in the eyeball or pain when moving the eyeball.

2. Causes of binocular optic neuropathy:

1. Local inflammation: such as uveitis, retinitis, sympathetic ophthalmia, meningitis, orbital infection and septic lesions.

2. Systemic diseases, such as encephalitis, tuberculosis, syphilis, acute infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, etc.

3. Viral infections, especially orbital infections, ethmoid and sphenoid sinusitis, dental caries, and tonsillitis.

4. Poisoning: such as tobacco, alcohol, lead, etc.

3. The clinical manifestations of binocular optic neuropathy are:

① Rapid vision loss, accompanied by pain in the forehead or behind the eyeball, a central dark spot or shrinkage of the visual field, especially red and green colors.

② In the early stage, both eyes are congested, with blurred edges and slight bulges. As the disease progresses, both eyes become edematous and enlarged, with exudates and bleeding. The retinal veins are dilated and tortuous, and the arteries are normal or thinner.

③ The retina near both eyes may also be affected, causing edema, hemorrhage or exudate (called neuroretinitis). If both eyes are completely blind, the pupils will dilate and the light response will disappear.

④ Children often suffer from bilateral binocular inflammation, which has an acute onset and often causes temporary loss of vision within 1 day.