The atrophy of an optic nerve - occurs owing to disease of an optic nerve and a retina, disease of a brain, its environments and vessels, an intoxication.

Pathogenesis. A destruction of nervous fibers, replacement by their glial and connecting tissue.

Signs, current. Distinguish a primary and secondary, partial and full, stationary and progressing atrophy of an optic nerve. At a primary atrophy an optic disk acyanotic with precise borders, formation of flat excavation, narrowing of arterial vessels of a retina are marked. Vision is lowered. The field of vision is narrowed, scotomas are taped. In an early stage of a secondary atrophy which arises after an inflammation or developments of stagnation, the acyanotic optic disk has indistinct borders, acts a little, veins of a retina are dilated; in a late stage the picture reminds a primary atrophy.