Optic Neuropathy Symptoms

Your optic nerve helps your brain to receive and interpret visual images. Each eye has an optic nerve which travels to the brain. At one point both optic nerves join together. They then split into four nerves. Each original optic nerve splits into two and one half crosses over to the other side. Due to this complex pathway, when there is damage to this nerve, there are changes to your vision based on where in the nerve's path the damage occurs. Vision changes can occur in one or both eyes.

Partial Visual Loss

• Some patients with optic neuropathy lose just part of their visual field. They may only be able to see higher or lower then they are actually looking. Some patients my be able to see right in front of them while others have just peripheral vision.

Full Visual Loss

• Most patients with optic neuropathy will experience slow vision loss that gets progressively worse. However, not everyone loses all of their sight. In rare cases when the nerve is severely compressed, there may be a sudden and complete vision loss. Blindness can occur in just one eye or in both.

Visual Changes

• If you have optic neuropathy you may notice that colors seem less bright and vivid. This can be noticed especially in patients where one eye is more affected then the other.

Outward Symptoms

• If you know someone with optic neuropathy you may notice that the pupil in one eye appears larger and protrudes more then the other.

Sensitivity to Light

• With optic neuropathy you may find yourself very sensitive to bright lights and glare. However during a physical examination, your pupils my not actually react to a light being shined into them.