Papilloedema

Papilloedema is a condition in which increased pressure in or around the brain causes the part of the optic nerve inside your eye to swell. Causes of this condition include:

• Bleeding in the brain
• Brain tumour or abscess
• Head injury
• Inflammation of the brain
• Pseudotumor cerebri (when the pressure inside your skull increases for no known reason)
• Uncontrolled, life-threatening hypertension (high blood pressure)

The symptoms of papilloedema are:

• Blurred vision
• Double vision (diplopia)
• Flickering or complete loss of vision
• Headache
• Nausea, vomiting, or both

Tests

Comprehensive Exam – Your doctor will conduct a thorough physical examination of your eyes – as well as gather a complete health history – to determine if you have papilloedema. Your doctor may use an ophthalmoscope (specialized light with magnifying lenses) to look at the back of your eye.

Imaging – Your eye care specialist may order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) scan to help determine the cause of your papilloedema. Your doctor may order ultrasonography of your eye to distinguish between papilloedema and other disorders that can also cause swelling of the optic nerve.

Lumbar Puncture – Your doctor may order a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to measure the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid. A sample of this fluid may be sent to the laboratory to check for evidence of a brain tumour or infection.

Treatments

Treatment of Underlying Cause – Your doctor will need to treat the other condition that’s causing your papilloedema. For example, if the high pressure of cerebrospinal fluid is caused by a brain tumour, you may need corticosteroids to help reduce its size. If an infection has caused your papilloedema, you’ll take an antibiotic medicine to clear up the infection. The treatment of your papilloedema depends on its cause.