Optic Nerve Elevation

[jmmuller1]

First Question, is Optic Nerve Elevation the same as optic neuritis?

If so, is Optic Nerve Elevation something that will go away in time.  I've been to soo many doctors and done soo much testing and everything is fine.  I still have eye pressure, headaches, and i feel my vision is getting worse.  I also am having a lot more floaters than normal.  It is very distracting when I try and do my work.

I would appreciate any help! Thanks!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

No optic nerve elevation is not the same as optic neuritis. ON is a cause of ONE but there are many causes of ONE: optic nerve drusen, high hyperopia, papilledema, etc.

Depending on the cause ONE may go away or it may increase or it may remain stable.

JCH MD

[jmmuller1]

What testing could be done to tell if it's either of these things?  I have done everything.  
MRI, blood work, eye field test, spinal tap.  I just want to feel better and it's like they don't know if its going to go away or if it needs to be treated!  Thank you!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Test include: visual field, flouriscene angiography, optic nerve OCT, stereo optic nerve photo, MRI/CT    direct/indirect ophthalmoloscopy, fundus lens exam.

One of your team should be a neuroophthalmologist. If not ask for a referall to one.

Good luck

JCH MD

[jmmuller1]

Thank you very much! I have an follow up appointment with my ophthalmologist in a week so I will be sure and ask her!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

You're welcome
JCH MD

[jmmuller1]

Hello,

I was just updating you with some news.  I recently went the eye Dr. and she said that my Optic Nerve Elevation was caused by drusen and that it was congenital.  

I am still having horrible eye pressure, floaters, flashes of light and headaches, but she said the ONE should not cause headaches.  My neurologist has give up on me saying that there is no more testing.

So I got an appointment with a Neuro-Ophthamologist and I see her in about 4 weeks.  I just don't know if i'm overreacting.  I've heard there is nothing to do about ONE but I feel that there is something more causes all of my symptoms, but they blame it being congenital.  Do you think that I should worry about it, or get a second opinion?  Thanks!!!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Optic nerve drusen would not cause flashing. Since its of concern probably a good idea to go ahead and see the neuro-ophthal      If you have an IOL in your eye that is a frequent cause of flashes of light

JCH MD

[jmmuller1]

Hello,
I recently had my appointment with a neuro-ophthamologist and was told that i might just have a "tilted" optic nerve. she was not very concerned about it.  Then i told her that the Dr said my optic nerves were elevated because of drusen.  She was sort of shocked because she said she did not see drusen and I have to go back in two weeks to get some type of images taken to see if they are drusen.  I guess my question is, what could be done if it is drusen?  Will they cause any other problems, or will they go away in time.  I am sort of still confused.  Is it nothing to worry about?  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

1. A tilted disk is not something to worrry about
2. optic nerve drusen cannot always be seen they can be "buried".  Buried drusen can make an optic nerve look swollen or twisted.
3. drusen may contine to form or change is size, shape, location so they may have been visible before but not now
4. The test is likely OCT which will show if you have drusen and if they are buried

JCH MD

[jmmuller1]

Thank you so much for the information.  I feel like I haven't been given much info, just sent to do so many tests.  So if it is drusen, is it really anything to be worried about?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

I've gone as far as I can go. you will need to ask that of the Eye MD after the OCT is done.

JCH MD