by Amber Richards

Created on: April 06, 2009

What is Optic Nerve Hypoplasia?

Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH) is underdevelopment of the nerve that is responsible for sending vision signals from the eye to the brain. It can affect either eye, or both eyes at once. If your optic nerve is underdeveloped it will result in loss of sight. The loss of sight can either be mild, or can be severe resulting in total blindness in affected eyes. ONH is one of the three most common causes of vision loss among children.

How is Optic Nerve Hypoplasia diagnosed?

An MRI can be used to check the optic nerve for underdevelopment. An Ophthalmologist then confirms the findings of the MRI. Quite often infants who have Optic Nerve Hypoplasia also have Optic Nerve Atrophy, so it's important to have your child thoroughly evaluated if he or she is diagnosed with ONH. Especially since ONH can often be related to anomalies of the brain & hormonal insufficiencies.

What causes Optic Nerve Hypoplasia?

ONH is not a genetic disorder, or something that just "happens" during growth in the womb. Young mothers who are 20 years old and younger are at a higher risk for having children with ONH. Maternal diabetes has been known to cause ONH in infants, and so has alcohol abuse while pregnant. Lastly, mothers who took seizure medicine had a higher chance of having a baby with ONH.

Symptoms of ONH

The most common symptoms of ONH are light sensitivity and involuntary eye movements. Older children may try to focus on objects and squint to try to see them better. The affected child may have blurry vision and may not have good peripheral vision. The affected individual may show a lack of interest when it comes to eating and they may display a weakened sense of smell and taste.

What is the prognosis of Optic Nerve Hypoplasia?

The outcome of having ONH varies. A person may only slightly be affected and have nearly normal vision. Others may experience complete blindness in the affected eyes and treatment is often directed at the difficulties caused by ONH. Currently, there is no cure for the disorder.

If you believe ONH could be affecting someone you love, it's important to have them evaluated since the disorder can be caused by other things that may need immediate medical intervention. It can be very difficult if you are a parent and your child has recently been diagnosed with ONH. Just remember, there is hope and your child will more than likely lead a very normal life with your support, and the support of a great medical team.

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