Optic nerve malformations

Optic nerve hypoplasia is a morphological description of a small-appearing optic nerve due to a decreased number of axons traveling from the retinal ganglion cells through the optic nerve head to the optic chiasm and lateral geniculate nucleus (Fig. 5.1). This results from either a primary lack of retinal ganglion cell and axon development or a retrograde loss of axons from disturbances in the posterior visual pathways before birth. Optic nerve hypoplasia is often associated with a number of midline intracranial malformations (septo-optic dysplasia or de Morsier's syndrome) as well as structural brain abnormalities (schizencephaly, proencephaly). © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Duke Scholars

Author Edward George Buckley Ophthalmology