Optic Nerve

I took my 14 year old daughter to the eye doctor because she was having trouble seeing distance.  The last time she went was 2+ years ago and she had trouble seeing up close at that time and was given reading glasses.  The doctor examined her and then asked me if anyone had ever metioned her optic never being "congested"  He said it should looke like a donut, but hers had practically no hole.  He said this effect was bilateral.  He was going to send for her records from the previous doctor and wants her to come back for a visual field test and some other test.  I din't ask a lot of question is front of her, because I didn't want to scare her unecessarily.  But inside, I am terrified.  My sister did of a glioblastoma and I couldn't bear for something similar to happen to my daughter.  Based on what I have told you, what do you think he is testing for at this point???

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

I certainly wouldn't get all worried about this because the doctor is just being thorough and being very cautious not to miss anything.  It sounds like the optic nerve might possibly be a little different from the average optic nerve and a disorder of the optic nerve or the brain would need to at least be ruled out and I think you already know that.  Chances are that everything will turn out normal and it is understandable that you are a little sensitized because of your sister.  If you go back in time you may find that your sister was having a lot more problems at the time, I would suspect.  Hopefully everything will turn out just fine with your daugther.

mjk md

[terrified_mom]

Thank you for your response.  I do appreciate your kind words and you're correct my sister did have other issues.  Her problems started with seizures and she didn't have any real vision problems until near the end.  My daughter has NO symptoms other than what was said about the optic nerve and blurry distance vision.  Isn't it a bit unusual to go from blurry close vision to blurry distance?? I guess I worry so much because she had congenital heart defects and we almost lost her as a baby, so she is double precious to us now.  In fact she has a coil implant near her heart, would this preclude an MRI being done?  Also, if she needs further testing, would Cardinal Glennon Hosptial be a good place to take her (I noticed you had some education from SLU).  I guess my queston is what would be the best place in the STL area to take her if further evaluation is needed?