help a worried mother

[mar11]

Can you explain the difference between bilateral pseudo papilledema and real papilledema?  What diagnostic tests or exams should be done as good future vigilance?  What questions should I ask my daughter's opthamologist?  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

papilledema means the optic serves are swollen and sticking up into the eye. While there are many causes they all are serious. The most common brain tumors or inflammation of the brain (for example trauma) and high pressure of the cerebral spinal fluid (pseudotumor cerebri).  

Pseudo- (false) papilledema is usually not serious except for it being difficult to distinguish from the real thing. False swelling can be due to optic nerve drusen, low pressure in the eye, large amounts of farsightedness and anomolies of the optic nerve.

Use Google images and search papilledema to see a picture of it.

JCH III MD