What Causes Papilledema In The Eye?

Posted on Sat, 21 May 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 21 May 2016 Answered on

Tue, 28 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : i have questions about papilledema. I have recently been diagnosed with papilledema in my right eye only. I am scheduled for further testing, and an MRI soon. My question is what are the most likely causes for papilledema of only one eye?

Answered by Dr. N K Mishra (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Causes of Unilateral Disc Swelling

Detailed Answer:
Welcome to HealthCareMagic.Com

Thank you for sending in your query.

First of all, we prefer to use the terminology disc oedema or papilitis for unilateral cases. Papilloedema is essentially reserved for bilateral cases.

There is a long list of causes for the same. I will enumerate a few.

1. Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy
2. Lebers hereditary Optic Neuropathy
3. Central Retinal Vein Thrombosis
4. Pseudo Neuritis
5. Drusen of optic nerve head

There are a battery of tests required before we come to a proper diagnosis.

1. History : Loss of vision is acute or long standing.

2.Colour Vision Test

3. Pupil Examination for Relative afferent pupillary defect

4. Visual Field Test

5. Vision Testing

After these tests your we can comfort optic nueroapthy. Coming to the cause it looks like the non arteritic ischaemic type of optic Neuropathy or maybe a compressive brain lesion. The points in favour are Unilateral, Late presentation and I am assuming acute presentation.

Apart from neuroimaging you can go in for sleep apnea testing, stop smoking and drugs like Viagra and amidarone.

Please get back to me if you have further queries.

Warm Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D