Aa
raised optic nerve
My 6 year old went for a routine eye test and he has been referred to hospital via the doctors to have further tests.
The optician explained but I was shocked so didn't really take it in.
His grandad and great grandma have eye macular degeneration..does this have anything to do with it?
What has caused it? Should I be worried? What tests will they do at hospital?
Your help is appreciated
The optician explained but I was shocked so didn't really take it in.
His grandad and great grandma have eye macular degeneration..does this have anything to do with it?
What has caused it? Should I be worried? What tests will they do at hospital?
Your help is appreciated
I did a search for raised optic nerves on internet and this is the main site for it!
This is somewhere to ask questions when you are not sure on something which is what I did. After looking on the Internet made me more concerned and wiery as it gives you lots of situations mainly leading to loss of site!
I have rang the optician since, but he just tells me to wait for hospital appointment and he has referred it.
I think asking what happens at hospital is a reasonable question considering I have no background, knowledge as an optician. As the internet tells me he will have an MRI scan and possibly an operation.
I am more worried after looking at the internet which is why I posted the question on here.
I am relieved it is not related to what his grandad and great nan has, but I still don't know anymore than my son needs to be looked at urgently and not as a routine appointment.
The first man to comment wasn't helpful (and I'm sorry if that offends you) but my original questions of should I be worried, what tests to expect at hospital..drops or scans? And what has caused it has not been answered.
I have a son who was, as I thought, was fine who now, after looking at the internet ,is going to possibly loose his site at 6 years old! So all I wanted was some clarification that was or was not the case.
I appreciate every patient is different however there must be a standard first test that is done!
This is somewhere to ask questions when you are not sure on something which is what I did. After looking on the Internet made me more concerned and wiery as it gives you lots of situations mainly leading to loss of site!
I have rang the optician since, but he just tells me to wait for hospital appointment and he has referred it.
I think asking what happens at hospital is a reasonable question considering I have no background, knowledge as an optician. As the internet tells me he will have an MRI scan and possibly an operation.
I am more worried after looking at the internet which is why I posted the question on here.
I am relieved it is not related to what his grandad and great nan has, but I still don't know anymore than my son needs to be looked at urgently and not as a routine appointment.
The first man to comment wasn't helpful (and I'm sorry if that offends you) but my original questions of should I be worried, what tests to expect at hospital..drops or scans? And what has caused it has not been answered.
I have a son who was, as I thought, was fine who now, after looking at the internet ,is going to possibly loose his site at 6 years old! So all I wanted was some clarification that was or was not the case.
I appreciate every patient is different however there must be a standard first test that is done!
If you were so 'shocked' that you did not remember later on what the optician said with regard to the referral of your child for testing, why don't you call the optician back - or go back to the office in person - to ask what he/she said at the time?
The referring professional would be in the best position to tell you to whom your child has been referred and, based on the doctor or department your son will visit, what tests the optician thinks may be done, or at least what you should expect at the upcoming visit.
Dr. Hagan cannot tell what tests will be done at the next visit as it will depend on to which type of doctor(s) your son was referred, and what the protocols are in your country/hospital/practice for assessing 'elevated optic nerve' in children. Please don't berate him - or other posters on this board - for being "not helpful at all." We are all volunteers or patients who help when we can. If it's not possible for us to know what will happen in your child's specific case, we can't provide a responsible answer.
If you want more information about this specific condition before the next visit, try doing some more research online about 'elevated optic nerve' in children. There are several discussions about this condition in this and other medical boards, as well as other web sites. Some of this information may discuss types of tests that can be done to evaluate 'elevated optic nerve,' which you said was something you wanted to know.
Be aware that any information you read will be either (a) very general or (b) specific with regard to a certain patient's condition - who is NOT your son. There is no way to know how much of what you read will - or will not - be applicable to your child's case.
If you do your own research online, be careful not to be overly influenced by the results until you have more information from the doctors about your son's specific condition. As with a lot of online medical research, you will probably find information that's all over the map, from "it's nothing to worry about" to "it could be serious, more tests are needed."
One thing you may find helpful is to make a list of your questions to take to upcoming appointments. A written list is a good way to make sure the patient (or parent) remembers to ask all their questions. And writing down the answers helps prevent "amnesia" later. Good luck.
The referring professional would be in the best position to tell you to whom your child has been referred and, based on the doctor or department your son will visit, what tests the optician thinks may be done, or at least what you should expect at the upcoming visit.
Dr. Hagan cannot tell what tests will be done at the next visit as it will depend on to which type of doctor(s) your son was referred, and what the protocols are in your country/hospital/practice for assessing 'elevated optic nerve' in children. Please don't berate him - or other posters on this board - for being "not helpful at all." We are all volunteers or patients who help when we can. If it's not possible for us to know what will happen in your child's specific case, we can't provide a responsible answer.
If you want more information about this specific condition before the next visit, try doing some more research online about 'elevated optic nerve' in children. There are several discussions about this condition in this and other medical boards, as well as other web sites. Some of this information may discuss types of tests that can be done to evaluate 'elevated optic nerve,' which you said was something you wanted to know.
Be aware that any information you read will be either (a) very general or (b) specific with regard to a certain patient's condition - who is NOT your son. There is no way to know how much of what you read will - or will not - be applicable to your child's case.
If you do your own research online, be careful not to be overly influenced by the results until you have more information from the doctors about your son's specific condition. As with a lot of online medical research, you will probably find information that's all over the map, from "it's nothing to worry about" to "it could be serious, more tests are needed."
One thing you may find helpful is to make a list of your questions to take to upcoming appointments. A written list is a good way to make sure the patient (or parent) remembers to ask all their questions. And writing down the answers helps prevent "amnesia" later. Good luck.
??? Just want to know what they will do first at the hospital? You surely have some idea of the process?
People not answering my questions are not putting my mind at rest they are making me think there is more to it and they don't want to be the one to tell me!
People not answering my questions are not putting my mind at rest they are making me think there is more to it and they don't want to be the one to tell me!
Not helpful at all, not getting any information from anyone as have to wait for doctor to refer him!
Thought you could at least tell me what to expect from now as I have no idea if this is something to be worried about or not.
If it is something to worry about I am not going to go into meltdown it would just prepare me.
Thought you could at least tell me what to expect from now as I have no idea if this is something to be worried about or not.
If it is something to worry about I am not going to go into meltdown it would just prepare me.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
That information needs to come from his physicians. some questions we can help in this forum and others we can't.
JCHMD
JCHMD
So you can't tell me if I should be worried or what to expect when he gets his hospital appointment?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
What has caused it? Should I be worried? What tests will they do at hospital?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No it has nothing to do with macular degeneration. You need to get the other information from the Eye MD ophthalmologist that did the exam
JCH MD
JCH MD
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Eye Care Community
Top General Health Answerers
Kansas City, MO
Grand Prairie, TX
San Diego, CA
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.
From your research you already know that it's possible there is some risk, but it all depends on whether there is any underlying cause for the elevated nerve. The only person who can answer that question is the doctor he will see.
From what I have read it sounds like 'elevated optic nerve' can be caused by many, many different things - and sometimes it's just the way the patient's body is, and nothing is 'wrong.' Some things that can cause it are serious, and some less so, or it may be nothing. You are doing the responsible thing by taking your son for testing to find out if there is anything reason behind the appearance of elevated optic nerves.
If you have searched this board you will have seen this discussion by a patient who was told she had 'elevated optic nerves' but after testing her doctor determined she had probably always had them and that they were not a problem:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Eye-Care/Elevated--Optic-Nerve/show/1204218
In that discussion the patient was told that if it was the first time her eyes were checked by an ophthalmologist it might be the reason the 'elevation' wasn't seen until that time. Perhaps this is the case with your son as well? It sounds like he doesn't have any vision symptoms since you mentioned the test was just routine, so perhaps this was his first dilated eye exam as well.
Here is another discussion in which an adult patient had the 'elevated optic nerve diagnosis' and had a lot of tests, including a spinal tap and an MRI, and in the end that patient was also never found to have a reason for his optic nerve elevation:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Eye-Care/What-causes-Optic-Nerve-Elevation/show/1498269
I also thought you would be interested in this discussion from a mother of a 9 year old asking a doctor's opinion about her son's elevated optic nerves:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Ophthalmology-Optometry-979/2010/9/Elevated-Optic-Nerve-Appearance.htm
And here is a question and answer from the parent of a 14-year old patient who was also referred for testing for an elevated optic nerve:
http://www.specsavers.co.uk/ask-the-optician/worried-about-referral-for-raised-optic-nerve-in-14-year-old/
From reading about this, it sounds like there are many tests your son may undergo, depending on what his doctors think. Some of the 'standard' optical exam tests include:
- checking his pupils for reaction time (before his eyes are dilated)
- dilating his pupils so the doctor can look at his retina and optic nerves
- IOP measurement - uses a little instrument or a puff of air to evaluate the pressure of the fluid inside your son's eyes. This is painless.
- direct exam - doctor holds a magnifying lens and light to look at your son's retina directly through his dilated pupil
- fundus photos - color pictures of the retina/nerve (these are taken with a camera in front of the patient - patient's chin goes in a chin rest, they look at a little light, camera flashes and takes the picture. These are sometimes done at each visit so the doctor can track any changes over time, if they suspect there is a problem that may change over time.
- OCT scan - this is another painless test taken with the patient's chin on a chin rest. It uses light waves to build a three-dimensional image of the retina area. I don't know if it is used to assess elevated optic nerves but I've had several of these scans to look at issues with my retinas.
You mentioned they are also planning to do an MRI which I assume would look for anything behind his eyes that could be affecting the appearance of the optic nerves.
It is totally understandable that you are frantic with worry that there may be something wrong with your son's vision. Unfortunately until the appointment for testing there simply isn't a way to know.
If there is any way you can get the appointment date at the hospital moved up, that is the only thing I can think of that might help alleviate your stress a little. I really hope you get a clear answer for your son's case very soon. Good luck.