Segmental Optic Nerve Hypoplasia Research Articles

Optic nerve hypoplasia and astigmatism: a new association.

Thirty-one patients with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) or septo-optic dysplasia and two patients with segmental ONH underwent retinoscopy. The results were compared with those of 20 normal subjects. There was a higher prevalence of astigmatism in the patients than in the controls. Two patients with segmental ONH had no evidence of astigmatism. The association of astigmatism with ONH has not hitherto been reported. The close association of ONH with astigmatism highlights the importance of performing careful retinoscopy in children with ONH or septooptic dysplasia in order to identify and correct errors of refraction, thereby optimising visual function and diminishing the likelihood of the development of superadded amblyopia.

Optic nerve hypoplasia with good visual acuity and visual field defects: a study of children of diabetic mothers.

Seventeen children, born of severely diabetic mothers, exhibited segmental optic nerve hypoplasia with normal visual acuity and altitudinal or sector field defects corresponding to the hypoplastic areas of the disc. This is the first group of patients with optic nerve hypoplasia in which a possible cause has been identified. Optic nerve hypoplasia is neither a rare abnormality usually associated with serious central nervous system defects, nor is it always accompanied by decreased visual acuity.