Conditions
Comprehensive guides to neuro-ophthalmology conditions affecting the visual system, optic nerves, and brain. Each condition page covers symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options.
66 condition guides reviewed by board-certified specialists
Compressive Optic Neuropathy
Vision loss from pressure on the optic nerve, usually from tumors, aneurysms, or other masses. Gradual vision loss is typical.
Dominant Optic Atrophy (Kjer Disease)
An inherited condition causing progressive bilateral vision loss from childhood due to optic nerve degeneration.
Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis)
A serious inflammatory condition of blood vessels that can cause sudden blindness if not treated immediately. Learn the warning signs and why urgent treatment is critical.
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (Pseudotumor Cerebri)
Increased pressure in the skull without a tumor causing headaches and vision problems. Learn about diagnosis, treatment, and protecting your vision.
Ischemic Optic Neuropathy
Sudden vision loss from blood flow loss to the optic nerve. Learn about the difference between arteritic (GCA) and non-arteritic forms and why urgent evaluation is critical.
Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON)
A genetic mitochondrial disorder causing rapid, severe vision loss in young adults, primarily affecting males.
Neuroretinitis
Inflammation of the optic nerve and retina, often caused by infection (especially cat scratch disease). Characterized by optic disc swelling with a macular star pattern.
Optic Disc Drusen
Calcified deposits within the optic nerve head that can mimic papilledema but are usually benign.
Optic Nerve Sheath Meningioma
A rare, slow-growing benign tumor surrounding the optic nerve that causes progressive vision loss.
Optic Neuritis
Inflammation of the optic nerve causing vision loss, eye pain, and color vision changes. Learn about causes, diagnosis, treatment, and connection to multiple sclerosis.
Optic Pathway Glioma
Tumors of the optic nerve or visual pathway, most common in children and often associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).
Optic Perineuritis
Inflammation of the optic nerve sheath rather than the nerve itself, causing pain and mild vision loss.
Papilledema
Swelling of the optic discs from elevated pressure inside the skull. Papilledema is a sign of increased intracranial pressure requiring urgent investigation.
Pituitary Tumor
Tumors of the pituitary gland that can compress the optic nerves and chiasm, causing characteristic visual field loss and hormonal imbalances.
Radiation-Induced Optic Neuropathy
Vision loss occurring months to years after radiation treatment to the head or orbit. A delayed complication of radiation therapy.
Toxic and Nutritional Optic Neuropathy
Vision loss from exposure to toxins (like methanol or certain medications) or nutritional deficiencies (like B12). Often reversible if caught early.
Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia (CPEO)
A mitochondrial disorder causing slowly progressive weakness of the eye muscles, leading to droopy eyelids and limited eye movement.
Duane Retraction Syndrome
A congenital eye movement disorder where the eye cannot turn outward fully and retracts into the socket when turning inward.
Fourth Cranial Nerve Palsy (Trochlear Nerve Palsy)
Weakness of the fourth cranial nerve causing vertical double vision and compensatory head tilt. Often caused by trauma or present from birth.
Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia (INO)
A brainstem disorder causing impaired horizontal eye movement coordination. Often caused by multiple sclerosis in young adults or stroke in older patients.
Microvascular Cranial Nerve Palsy
The most common cause of isolated third, fourth, or sixth nerve palsies in adults. Caused by small vessel disease affecting blood supply to these nerves.
Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
An autoimmune condition causing muscle weakness that fluctuates, often affecting the eyes first with droopy eyelids and double vision.
Nystagmus
Involuntary rhythmic eye movements that may cause oscillopsia or reduced visual acuity depending on the type.
Sixth Cranial Nerve Palsy (Abducens Nerve Palsy)
Weakness of the sixth cranial nerve causing inability to move the eye outward and horizontal double vision. Often microvascular but can indicate serious conditions.
Skew Deviation
Vertical eye misalignment caused by brainstem or cerebellar lesions. The eyes are misaligned up and down rather than side to side.
Superior Oblique Myokymia
Intermittent, rapid contractions of the superior oblique muscle causing brief episodes of oscillopsia and monocular torsional diplopia.
Third Cranial Nerve Palsy (Oculomotor Nerve Palsy)
Weakness of the third cranial nerve causing droopy eyelid, double vision, and sometimes pupil abnormalities. Pupil involvement may indicate aneurysm—a medical emergency.
Adie's Tonic Pupil
A dilated pupil that reacts slowly to light due to damage to the nerve fibers controlling pupil constriction. Usually benign and often occurs in young women.
Argyll Robertson Pupils
Small, irregular pupils that constrict to near focus but not to light. A classic sign of neurosyphilis, though now rare.
Benign Essential Blepharospasm
Involuntary forceful closure of the eyelids from muscle spasms, causing functional blindness even when eyes are healthy.
Hemifacial Spasm
Involuntary twitching and spasms on one side of the face, usually caused by a blood vessel pressing on the facial nerve.
Horner Syndrome
A constellation of findings including a smaller pupil, droopy eyelid, and sometimes facial sweating changes, indicating a problem in the sympathetic nerve pathway.
Ptosis (Droopy Eyelid)
Drooping of the upper eyelid, which can be present from birth or develop later in life. Causes range from age-related changes to serious neurological conditions.
Cancer-Associated Visual Syndromes
Visual symptoms related to cancer, including paraneoplastic syndromes where the immune response to cancer damages the visual system, and direct effects of tumor spread.
Cavernous Sinus Syndrome
Multiple cranial nerve problems from a lesion in the cavernous sinus, causing eye movement problems, pain, and sensory changes.
Charles Bonnet Syndrome
Visual hallucinations in people with vision loss, not a psychiatric condition but a brain response to reduced input.
Functional Vision Loss
Vision loss without identifiable organic cause, resulting from psychological factors. Real symptoms that require supportive care and a respectful diagnostic approach.
Intracranial Hypotension
Low pressure inside the skull from cerebrospinal fluid leak, causing positional headaches and sometimes visual symptoms.
Long COVID Vision Issues
Visual symptoms that persist or develop following COVID-19 infection, including blurred vision, light sensitivity, and visual processing problems.
MOGAD (MOG Antibody Disease)
An autoimmune condition causing inflammation of the optic nerve and spinal cord, distinct from multiple sclerosis. Associated with antibodies against MOG protein.
Multiple Sclerosis Vision Complications
Multiple sclerosis frequently affects vision through optic neuritis, eye movement problems, and other visual disturbances. Learn about MS-related vision issues.
Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO/Devic's Disease)
An autoimmune condition attacking the optic nerves and spinal cord, distinct from multiple sclerosis, requiring specific diagnosis and treatment.
Post-Traumatic Vision Syndrome
Visual symptoms following head injury or concussion, including focusing problems, light sensitivity, and reading difficulties even when the eyes appear normal.
Stroke-Related Vision Loss
Vision loss or visual symptoms caused by stroke affecting the visual pathways in the brain. Includes visual field defects, double vision, and visual processing problems.
Thyroid Eye Disease (Graves' Orbitopathy)
An autoimmune condition affecting the eyes in patients with thyroid problems, causing bulging eyes, double vision, and rarely vision-threatening complications.
Visual Snow Syndrome
A neurological condition causing constant visual static or 'snow' across the entire visual field, often with other visual disturbances and migraines.