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Papilledema or papilloedema is optic disc swelling that is caused by increased intracranial pressure due to any cause. [1] The swelling is usually bilateral and can occur over a period of hours to weeks. [2] Unilateral presentation is extremely rare. In intracranial hypertension, the optic disc swelling most commonly occurs bilaterally.
Unilateral or bilateral optic disc edema may occur. The exact etiology, pathogenesis and mechanism of the disc edema is unknown. [1] [2] Theories suggest that the dis edema is due to retinal vascular leakage into and surrounding the optic nerve and disruption of axoplasmic flow resulting from microvascular disease of the optic nerve head. [2]
If the papilledema has been longstanding, visual fields may be constricted and visual acuity may be decreased. Visual field testing by automated perimetry is recommended as other methods of testing may be less accurate. Longstanding papilledema leads to optic atrophy, in which the disc looks pale and visual loss tends to be advanced. [5] [9]
Papilledema that is not yet chronic will not have as dramatic an effect on vision. Because increased intracranial pressure can cause both papilledema and a sixth nerve palsy, papilledema can be differentiated from papillitis if esotropia and loss of abduction are also present. However, esotropia may also develop secondarily in an eye that has ...
Papilledema (swelling of the optic disc) can be a reliable sign of elevated ICP. Unlike other conditions that may result in the swelling of the optic disc, it is in the case of papilledema that vision may go largely unaffected. [8]
True papilledema may present with exudates or cotton-wool spots, unlike ODD. The optic disc margins are characteristically irregular in ODD but not blurred as there is no swelling of the retinal nerve fibers. Spontaneous venous pulsations are present in about 80 percent of patients with ODD, but absent in cases of true disc edema. [6]
The more common features of the disease are summarized in the acronym POEMS: Papilledema (swelling of the optic disc) often but not always due to increased intracranial pressure) is the most common ocular sign of POEMS syndrome, occurring in ≥29% of cases.
The optic disc is located 3 to 4 mm to the nasal side of the fovea.It is a vertical oval, with average dimensions of 1.76mm horizontally by 1.92mm vertically. [2] There is a central depression, of variable size, called the optic cup.