Vol. 1, Issue 8, Part D (2015)

Materials and Methods: In a hospital-based observational research, 120 individuals who had been diagnosed with optic disc oedema were examined. This study was conducted at the department of Ophthalmology, SS Institute of Medical Sciences, Davangere, Karnataka, India from the February 2014 to January 2015. Extensive eye and systemic exams were performed on patients. We analysed the visual field defect patterns of patients and classified them according to the aetiology of ODE, such as papilledema, optic neuritis, or anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (AION). To determine if there was an association between clinical characteristics and visual field abnormalities, statistical comparisons were carried out.

Results: Papilledema accounted for 40% of the 120 cases with optic disc oedema, followed by optic neuritis at 30% and AION at 20%. Hypertensive optic neuropathy (10%), toxic optic neuropathy (5%), and diabetic papillopathy were among the less common causes. Enlarged blind spots were seen in 85% of papilledema cases and inferior nasal abnormalities in 52% of cases. In 78% of patients, scotomas were located centrally or centrocecally in optic neuritis. Altitudinal deficiencies were observed in 64% of AION cases, with inferior altitudinal loss accounting for 42% of those cases. Diffuse field depression was one of the patterns seen in the remaining cases (10%).

Conclusion: Different causes of optic disc oedema cause different visual field patterns. The majority of cases are caused by papilledema, which manifests as larger blind patches. Optic neuritis, on the other hand, causes central scotomas, while AION shows altitudinal abnormalities. To help diagnose and treat optic disc oedema quickly, telltale signs of the condition in the visual field should be looked for as soon as possible.