SWOLLEN OPTIC DISC

raised intracranial pressure [visual acuity usually preserved]:

cerebral tumour

hydrocephalus

'benign intracranial hypertension' (pseudotumour cerebri)

cerebral abscess

encephalitis and meningitis

subarachnoid haemorrhage

papilloma of choroid plexus [excess CSF production]

steroids

obstruction to venous drainage:

central retinal vein occlusion

cavernous sinus thrombosis

orbital neoplasm

superior vena cava obstruction

anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy:

giant cell arteritis

other vasculitides

other / miscellaneous:

papillitis [various causes; inflammation of optic disc; visual acuity impaired]

malignant hypertension

systemic lupus erythematosus

sarcoidosis

hypocalcaemia

CO2 narcosis (end-stage respiratory failure)

Guillain-Barre syndrome [due to very high CSF proteins causing decreased CSF resorption]

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