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OPTIC ATROPHY |
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congenital: |
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Leber's optic atrophy [young adult male; bilateral]Friedreich's ataxia retinal degenerations, eg. retinitis pigmentosa [various syndromes or isolated]dominant optic atrophy [occurs during 1st decade of life] |
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acquired: |
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optic neuritis: |
demyelination [multiple sclerosis = commonest cause]inflammatory vascular disease of optic nerve |
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toxins / drugs: |
ethambutol lead quinine, chloroquine methyl alcohol excess smoking of strong pipe tobacco |
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pressure on optic nerve: |
glaucoma [commonest cause of optic atrophy]Paget's disease tumours [most commonly pituitary]aneurysm exophthalmos [traction] |
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infections: |
syphilis other causes of chorioretinitis |
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other: |
vitamin deficiency, eg. B12tropical ataxic neuropathy trauma to optic nerve central retinal artery or vein occlusion long-standing papilloedema (from any cause) |
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click here for causes of optic atrophy classified as primary, secondary and consecutive
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