Question

At 37, I was diagnosed with hypertension, and at 56, I had an attack of glaucoma, which was treated surgically and has been maintained since. Now my vision is less than 0.4 in both eyes, and in the past two years, I have developed optic nerve atrophy with further vision decline. I am worried about going blind. What treatment options are available?

Answer

  1. Optic nerve atrophy is a manifestation of optic nerve fiber degeneration, characterized primarily by vision loss and pale optic disc color. When the lesion is located in the retina and involves retinal ganglion cells, it can lead to atrophy from the retina towards the brain, referred to as ascending optic nerve atrophy, with visible signs of optic disc atrophy appearing relatively quickly. When the lesion is located in the optic nerve, optic chiasm, and optic tract, it can cause atrophy developing from the brain towards the retina, known as descending optic nerve atrophy. Generally, optic disc atrophy signs appear about 1 to 3 months later. Early diagnosis of optic nerve atrophy can be challenging when solely relying on the appearance of the optic disc. Treatment measures include etiological treatment, nerve nutrition drugs, vasodilators and blood circulation drugs, traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture treatment, etc. It is prohibited to smoke and consume strong alcohol. Strengthening the body, doing health exercises, and practicing Qigong may also be effective.