ischemic optic nueropothy

[rusty904]

I am 60, and 6 months ago i started losing my eye sight.I have been to a few doctors and i was diagnosed with ischemic optic nueropothy.They say there is nothing i can do,but people tell me there is medication that can stimulate the optic nerve and that could help me.Is there any medication or treatment i can try.

[AnnaE]

Perhaps you should return to one of those doctors or get another opinion, and share Dr. Kutryb's suggestion (the one in the last sentence above) with them).

I hope that you can find help.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

As far as I know there is no medication available to stimulate nerve repair or any sort.  There has been some research in certain drugs for slowing nerve damage due to apoptosis or "programmed cell death."  I must state that none have been proved effective in humans, though and none are approved for use at present.  Usually ischemic optic neuropathy is not a slow process but is rather abrupt usually.  You may actually have other problems in addition to optic neuropathy.

MJK MD