Papilledema

[rebeccaxx]

I had papilledema which was caused by a tetracycline drug, but I'm wondering what the causes are in other people.

could I get any personal stories?


This discussion is related to pushing against eye.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Your anxiety is understandable and it is vitally important to see the neuroophthalmologist. Anything I might way is only speculation so I can't offer any diagnosis. The best thing it could be is pseudo-papilledema which is "false" swelling of the optic nerve. That's all I can tell you except don't miss that appointment.

JCH MD

[Lexiesmom1]

I am 38 y/o woman. I started am having pressure and pain in right eye 10 months ago. Felt like sinus pain. Was so intense I tried everything. ENT did CT with no real issue seen. Prescribed Flonase etc. I had an eye exam 2 weeks ago and in same eye they saw patons lines and haze around optic nerve. I see neuro ophthalmologist next week but am freaking out trying to figure this out!!?? What could it be that is not bad and vise versa. My head pain/ behind right eye was sudden onset lasting months- went away but returns weekly with less intensity. Patons lines were only in one eye not both.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

As I said papilledema is almost always in both eyes so the other eye needs to be considered "at risk".
JCH MD

[lonnamaria06]

I asked a question earlier about my 15 year old daughter having Papilledema but forgot one of the things I mainly wanted to ask. When they say, "May possibly lose vision, do they mean both eyes? or just the one with the Edema in it? She already can't see out of that eye much because it is her lazy eye. But, now I'm concerned about her other healthy eye. Thanks again!
Scared Mom

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

He will need to be regularly see by an ophthalmologist and a neurologist and his diamox (acetzolamide) dosage regulated. It may go away, it may get worse, it may require long term therapy.

JH III MD

[stewart_forbes]

Thanks for the information, we are back home now.  Our son has had his 2nd lumber puncture and we are told his levels are down to an acceptable 15 (?) from over 50 (?).  We are seeing an opthalmologist on Wednesday because his eyes (inflamation behind his eyes) are the same as when he was first admitted.  We have been told it may take much longer for the eye problem to settle down.  Would it be posssible to give us an indication of the the long term treatment we can expect? s it likely to harm his vision long term?  We have been prescribed acetazolamie.  Kind Regards, Stewart (England).

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The condition that would most likely account for that would be pseudo-tumor cerebri also known as benign intracranial hypertension. But their are other causes. He needs to be under the care of a neurologist and neuro-ophthalmologist.

JCH III MD

[stewart_forbes]

My son was admitted to hospital on 12th june - sysmtoms extreme headache, neckache, vomiting and double vision.  The hospital run an Mri scan an Mrv scan and discounted a tumor or a clot. They then did a lumber puncture to try to relieve the pressure from behind his eyes.  This procedure has helped with the head and neck pain but he still has slightly blurred vision.   They said they had never seen such high pressure in a teenager (he is 13) and we are about have a 2nd lumber puncture tomorrow.  Can you offer any advise?? Kind Regards  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You are "lucky" as more common causes of papilledema are: brain tumors, major head trauma, optic nerve inflammation, overacative production of cerebral spinal fluid (Pseudotumor cerebri).