Papilledema

In patients with papilledema, vision is usually not affected initially, but seconds-long graying out of vision, flickering, or blurred or double vision may occur. Patients may have symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, such as headache or nausea and vomiting. Pain is absent.

Ophthalmoscopic examination reveals engorged and tortuous retinal veins, a hyperemic and swollen optic disk (optic nerve head), and retinal hemorrhages around the disk but not into the retinal periphery. Isolated disk edema (eg, caused by optic neuritis or ischemic optic neuropathy) without the retinal findings indicative of elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure is not considered papilledema (unless the intracranial pressure is elevated on concurrent lumbar puncture).

In the early stages of papilledema, visual acuity and pupillary response to light are usually normal and become abnormal only after the condition is well advanced. Visual field testing may detect an enlarged blind spot. Later, visual field testing may show peripheral vision loss with arcuate defects that follow the nerve fiber bundle defects.

The degree of disk swelling can be quantified by comparing the plus lens numbers needed to focus an ophthalmoscope on the most elevated portion of the disk and on the unaffected portion of the retina. Swelling can also be quantified by measuring nerve fiber layer thickness using optical coherence tomography Optical coherence tomography The eye can be examined with routine equipment, including a standard ophthalmoscope; thorough examination requires special equipment and evaluation by an ophthalmologist. History includes location... read more (OCT); OCT is done to quantify the degree of papilledema so that changes can be monitored.

Differentiating papilledema due to elevated intracranial pressure from other causes of a swollen optic disk, such as optic neuritis Optic Neuritis Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve. Symptoms are usually unilateral, with eye pain and partial or complete vision loss. Diagnosis is primarily clinical. Treatment is directed... read more , ischemic optic neuropathy Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Ischemic optic neuropathy is infarction of the optic disk. It can be arteritic or nonarteritic. The only constant symptom is painless acute vision loss. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment for... read more , hypotony (intraocular pressure ≤ 5 mm Hg), central retinal vein occlusion Central Retinal Vein Occlusion and Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion Central retinal vein occlusion is a blockage of the central retinal vein by a thrombus. It causes painless vision loss, ranging from mild to severe, and usually occurs suddenly. Diagnosis is... read more , uveitis Overview of Uveitis Uveitis is defined as inflammation of the uveal tract—the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. However, the retina and fluid within the anterior chamber and vitreous are often involved as well.... read more , or pseudo swollen disks (eg, optic nerve drusen), requires a thorough ophthalmologic evaluation. If papilledema is suspected clinically, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain with gadolinium contrast or computed tomography (CT) with contrast is done immediately to exclude causes such as an intracranial mass. MR venogram or CT venogram is often done to rule out a dural venous sinus thrombosis. Lumbar puncture Post–Lumbar Puncture and Other Low–Pressure Headaches Low-pressure headaches result from reduction in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume and pressure due to lumbar puncture or spontaneous or traumatic CSF leaks. (See also Approach to the Patient... read more with measurement of CSF pressure and analysis of CSF should be done if a mass lesion has been ruled out. Lumbar puncture in patients with intracranial mass lesions can result in brain stem herniation. If no mass is seen on MRI, the opening pressure is elevated and other causes of raised intracranial pressure have been ruled out, the diagnosis is idiopathic intracranial hypertension. B-scan ultrasonography, OCT, and fundus autofluorescence are the best diagnostic tools for the pseudo disk edema of optic nerve drusen.

Urgent treatment of the underlying disorder is indicated to decrease intracranial pressure. If intracranial pressure is not reduced, secondary optic nerve atrophy and vision loss eventually occur.