OPTIC ISCHEMIA

Course overview

THE OPTIC NERVE MAY BE DAMAGED BY ISCHEMIA ANYWHERE ALONG ITS PATH, STARTING FROM ITS ORIGIN. IT IS MAINLY DIVIDED INTO ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR. A PORTION OF THE OPTIC NERVE BETWEEN THE RETINA AND SCLERA IS SUPPLIED BY A NETWORK OF 6 TO 12 SHORT POSTERIOR CILIARY ARTERIES AT THE BACK OF THE GLOBE. OPTIC ISCHEMIA IS A SERIOUS VISION-THREATENING DISEASE. IT LEADS TO VISION LOSS IN BOTH EYES SEQUENTIALLY IF NOT TREATED IN TIME. THEREFORE A PROMPT DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT ARE MANDATORY. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT ASPECTS OF OPTIC ISCHEMIA AND THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE SAME.