What does it mean when your optic nerve is swollen?

Papilledema is swelling of your optic nerve, which connects the eye and brain. This swelling is a reaction to a buildup of pressure in or around your brain that may have many causes. Often, it’s a warning sign of a serious medical condition that needs attention, such as a brain tumor or hemorrhage.

Do your eyes get swollen when pregnant?

Puffiness around the eyes is another common side effect of certain hormonal changes women may have while pregnant. Puffy eyelids may interfere with peripheral vision. Migraine headaches linked to hormonal changes are very common among pregnant women.

Can a swollen optic nerve be nothing?

It’s possible for the optic nerve to be inflamed without affecting vision. A careful, medical evaluation of the eye can generally pinpoint optic neuritis even if you don’t have symptoms.

When does the optic nerve develop in pregnancy?

Beginning at 6 weeks of pregnancy, these growths start to fold inward and form two cup-like structures. As these structures enlarge, they remain connected to the brain by a stalk that will eventually house the main optic nerve.

How do you treat a swollen optic nerve?

Optic neuritis usually improves on its own. In some cases, steroid medications are used to reduce inflammation in the optic nerve. Possible side effects from steroid treatment include weight gain, mood changes, facial flushing, stomach upset and insomnia. Steroid treatment is usually given by vein (intravenously).

Can weight gain cause optic nerve swelling?

An estimated 100,000 Americans have it, and the number is rising as obesity becomes more widespread. IIH brings increased pressure within the fluid-filled spaces inside and around the brain. This pressure can cause swelling and damage to the optic nerves that connect the eyes to the brain.

When should I be concerned about swollen hands during pregnancy?

If you experience sudden or gradually worsening swelling in your face, around your eyes, or in your hands accompanied by high blood pressure, call your doctor immediately. This could be a symptom of preeclampsia, which requires immediate treatment to protect you and baby.

When should I be worried about swelling during pregnancy?

When swelling is out of the normal range or is accompanied by other symptoms, it’s critical to call your OB or midwife right away. Here are abnormal swelling symptoms to be aware of: Swelling in your face and/or puffiness around your eyes. Extreme swelling or sudden swelling in your hands, feet, or ankles.

Can you go blind from optic nerve damage?

Optic nerve damage is also called optic nerve atrophy or optic neuropathy. The optic nerve is the nerve that connects and transmits information between the eye and the brain. Optic nerve damage can lead to vision distortion, vision loss, and blindness.

Does a baby know when their father touches my belly?

If you’re pregnant, you know that rubbing your belly simply makes you feel good no matter the reason. (And during pregnancy, things that feel good are always a huge bonus.) Now, a new study confirms that fetuses respond powerfully to belly touches, which may suggest that it makes them feel good, too!

How does the optic nerve develop?

The optic nerve is a collection of more than a million nerve fibers that transmit visual signals from the eye to the brain [See Figure 1]. The optic nerve develops during the first trimester of intrauterine life.

What medications can cause optic nerve swelling?

Many commonly prescribed drugs have been implicated in optic neuropathy. Discussed here are the agents that have the most supporting information: phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, amiodarone, linezolid, ethambutol, and isoniazid.

What are the symptoms of optic nerve swelling?

Your doctor may discover it when they see optic nerve swelling during a routine eye exam. As it progresses, you’re likely to have vision problems, usually in both eyes. It’s common to have blurred or double vision, and lose your vision for a few seconds at a time. Other symptoms are headache, queasiness, and throwing up.

Why are my eyes so swollen during pregnancy?

Like most uncomfortable pregnancy-related symptoms, you can generally blame vision changes on those pesky hormones and other bodily changes like pregnancy swelling. 3  Just as you can experience swollen hands and feet during pregnancy, the tissue around your eyes may swell as a result of water retention or edema.

How to know if your vision is normal during pregnancy?

Other normal, but bothersome visual symptoms may include: 4  1 An increase in floaters or dark spots (scotomata) in your vision 2 An increase in pigmentation around the eyes (pregnancy mask or melasma) 3 Eye dryness, irritation, itchiness, or discomfort 4 Papilledema, or optic disc swelling, may occur more frequently in pregnancy

What causes pain in the optic nerve and vision loss?

The nerve fibers have a special coating called myelin. Optic neuritis occurs when swelling (inflammation) damages the optic nerve — a bundle of nerve fibers that transmits visual information from your eye to your brain. Common symptoms of optic neuritis include pain with eye movement and temporary vision loss in one eye.