What does it mean if a baby has a small optic nerve?

What does it mean if a baby has a small optic nerve?

A child with the Syndrome of Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH), also known as Septo Optic Dysplasia (SOD) or DeMorsiers Syndrome, has under-developed optic nerves. The optic nerves carry messages from the eye to the brain. ONH is the single leading cause of blindness in infants and toddlers.

Can you be born with a thin optic nerve?

Optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) is a congenital condition in which the optic nerve is underdeveloped in one eye (unilateral) or both (bilateral).

Can optic nerve hypoplasia be cured?

Although no cure for ONH exists, timely intervention may minimize the impact of vision loss and generally improve development in these children. An underdeveloped optic nerve is a congenital problem, leading to eyesight deterioration.

Can you still see with optic nerve hypoplasia?

Most people with ONH have abnormal eye movements (nystagmus) and vision can range from no light perception to good functional vision, or even full vision in one eye. Children with ONH may have brain malformations and pituitary problems.

Is ONH a disability?

ONH is a spectrum disorder; a child with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia can be totally blind, but exhibit no developmental delays, sensory processing difficulties or medical complications.

What is a normal optic nerve size?

1.2 to 2.5mm
The normal optic nerve head diameter varies in size from 1.2 to 2.5mm. There is some inconsistency in the literature as to what cutoffs to use for a small or large disc, but in general a disc can be considered small if ≤ 1.2 mm and large if ≥ 1.8 mm.

How do you treat ONH?

There is no medical or surgical treatment for ONH. However, occlusion of the better seeing eye may improve vision in the other eye. Children with significant vision loss in both eyes may benefit from early supportive attention by low vision specialists.

What is normal optic cup?

The normal cup to disc ratio (the diameter of the cup divided by the diameter of the whole nerve head or disc) is about 1/3 or 0.3. There is some normal variation here, with some people having almost no cup (thus having 1/10 or 0.1), and others having 4/5ths or 0.8 as a cup to disc ratio.