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Optic atrophy causes varying degrees of vision loss, with two main types: acquired and congenital. Both types result in severe loss of function, with limited treatment options. Early diagnosis is important, and researchers are exploring stem cell treatments.
Optic atrophy is an eye condition that causes vision loss to varying degrees, depending on the type of atrophy and the patient’s individual condition. The most common symptom of this eye disorder is loss of vision and there is very rarely pain associated with the disease. Some patients notice small changes in their vision, while others experience severe vision loss. There are two main types of optic atrophy, acquired and congenital, both of which result in vision loss, although other characteristics, such as the time of onset, can vary. Treatment options are limited, but researchers are looking at ways to combat the damage to the optic nerve.
Both forms of optic atrophy affect the optic nerves of the eye, causing the nerve fibers to narrow and causing severe loss of function. The optic nerves are technically part of the brain and therefore are unable to regenerate once the process has begun. Any type of damage to the optic nerve is usually irreversible, and patients with this disease have experienced moderate to severe vision loss after onset.
With acquired optic atrophy, the patient has some type of underlying condition that initiated the optic nerve disorder. Any medical condition that limits the flow of blood or oxygen to the optic nerve can result in acquired optic atrophy, as can inflammation of the optic nerve. Patients suffering from tumors that put pressure on the nerve, as well as vitamin B12 deficiencies, may also be at increased risk. In some cases, this type of eye disorder is the result of pre-existing metabolic conditions such as diabetes mellitus and glaucoma.
There are two types of hereditary optic atrophy, known as dominant optic atrophy and Leber’s atrophy. In cases of dominant optic atrophy, affected patients will likely experience vision loss in early childhood, while symptoms associated with Leber’s disorder typically manifest in their 20s and 30s. Almost all cases of Leber’s atrophy affect only boys, as it passes exclusively through the maternal genes to sons. The mutation that causes this condition affects the mitochondrial genome of individual optic nerve cells.
Medical care and treatments for these conditions are limited, and early diagnosis is thought to help stop further nerve damage. In most cases of acquired atrophy, treatments that combat the compression or toxicity causing the original optic nerve degeneration can be prescribed. Researchers have begun exploring stem cell treatments for cases of optic atrophy and other neurological disorders, with some success.
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