Definition:

Optic neuropathy is damage to the optic nerve that causes vision loss frequently. The optic nerve is susceptible to a number of pathologic processes. Causes of the disease include demyelinating, inflammatory, toxic, nutritional, compressive, infiltrative, hereditary, traumatic, and neoplastic. The classic clinical signs of optic neuropathy are visual field defect, dyschromatopsia, and abnormal papillary response. A rapid onset is typical of demyelinating, inflammatory, ischemic, and traumatic causes.