Conditions and Diseases of the Optic Nerve

Your retina (the inner surface at the back of your eye) senses light and transmits impulses to your optic nerve. It is your optic nerve that carries these impulses to your brain. This movement of impulses along the optic nerve is crucial to normal vision. So when problems occur with your optic nerve, you can count on problems occurring with your vision, too.

Therefore, it's important to seek treatment any time you experience symptoms such as blurriness of vision, double-vision or seeing shadows, as well as headache or experiencing pain and discomfort when moving your eyes. These symptoms may indicate problems with your optic nerve.

Papilledema, Ischemic Neuropathy & Optic Nerve Atrophy

Your optic nerve is prone to a number of serious conditions. Ischemic Neuropathy, for one, is a condition that results in loss of vision due to damage to the optic nerve from insufficient blood supply, while Papilledema results from a swelling of the optic disc (the optic disc is where the optic nerve enters the eyeball). Another condition is Optic Nerve Atrophy, which is damage to the optic nerve that results in a degeneration or even destruction of the optic nerve.

In the case of these and other conditions of the optic nerve, early diagnosis is crucial. Several of these conditions are incurable (once nerve fibers in the optic nerve are destroyed, they do not grow back), but they can be slowed and even prevented by a variety of treatments available at BayCare's Green Bay Eye Clinic.

Specialists in Conditions of the Optic Nerve

BayCare's Green Bay Eye Clinic has ophthalmologists who specialize in conditions of the optic nerve -- not just treating these conditions, but detecting them early so damage to your vision can be minimized.

If you've been experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned here, book an appointment at BayCare's Green Bay Eye Clinic today.

For more information on conditions of the eye and our various corrective procedures to treat them, be sure to view our Eyemaginations Library, a 3-D guided tour of your eyes, how they work, and the various eye conditions and treatments you should know about.

For all your eye care needs, from contact lenses and glasses to the latest in LASIK laser eye surgery, contact BayCare's Green Bay Eye Clinic today to schedule an appointment.