Abstract

Optic atrophy refers to a degeneration of retinal ganglion cells that form the optic nerve. A misnomer in itself, Optic atrophy may be termed as the end stage of Optic neuropathy. The etiologies may range from inflammations to ischemias, nutritional deficiencies to intoxication, congenital diseases `to genetic disorders, completely neurological causes including demyelination, space occupying lesions and so on.
These patients may present to us with minimal, moderate, total vision loss, field deficits or it may just be an incidental finding in a routine eye exam. The aim of this paper is to highlight the probable diagnoses depending on the age profile of the patient coupled with thorough history and relevant investigations. A few examples of the above cases will be shared with a thorough discussion on the approach to each. A highlight on identifying the mimickers and avoiding extensive investigations will be shared as well.