My Son with Optic Disc Atrophy But He Sees

[waqarkhan]

My son, 5 years,  is hydrocephylus. He was VP shunted at 10 days old. He is perfectly normal except that he is nystygmus and has been diagnosed with Optic Disc Atrophy. Doctors in Pakistan told us that his vision would not be good. But we as parents feels that his vision is improving as he is growing older. Is there any one who can share with me the prognosis of children with Optic Disc Atrophy? Will my son be able to improve his vision to such extent where he will be able to conduct himself in all walks of life? We have been pursuing his studies in a normal school, despite, the doctor's advice to send him to Special School!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

There are all degrees of optic atropy from mild that does not affect the vision at all to severe where the eye is totally blind. The most important things are: make sure the shunt continues to function. If it blocks off pressue will build up and choke all the  sight out of the eyes. Second see an Eye MD at least every year to watch for other types of eye disease and to test for refractive errors (need for glasses).

JCH III MD