What Is A Papilledema And How Is It Treated?

Papilledema, or swelling of the optic nerve bump (with stasis paper), is a disease of the eye. It consists of swelling of the area of ​​the optic nerve closest to the retina due to increased intracranial pressure.

In some cases, this disease is asymptomatic, while sometimes it affects vision. The problem is that there may be serious health problems behind the disease, such as brain tumors. In this article, we share important information about papilledema.

What is a papilledema theme?

The papilloedema is thus a swelling of the bump (papilla) of the optic nerve in the eye. Most often, it occurs in both eyes simultaneously as bilateral edema around the optic nerve.

The cause of the disease is elevated intracranial pressure. The skull is a solid skeletal structure that contains various organs and substances inside. One of them is cerebrospinal fluid. As something inside this skeletal structure increases in size, it causes an increase in pressure.

The papilloedema thus occurs when the intracranial pressure rises above 200 millimeters of water. This increase may be due to mass or tumor. On the other hand, it may also be the result of an increased amount of cerebrospinal fluid.

Possible causes

As just mentioned, the cause of papillema is increased intracranial pressure due to the amount of cerebrospinal fluid or abnormal masses in the brain.

These two situations are common in different cases. When we talk about abnormal masses, we are referring to tumors, infectious abscesses, or blood due to bleeding.

However, according to a study published in the journal Neurology Supplements, the most common cause of papilloedema is idiopathic intracranial hypertension. This means that the pressure rises, but the cause behind it is not clear.

Sometimes it can be due to meningitis or encephalitis. An article in Acta Neurológica Colombiana states that it can also be a symptom of Wernicke syndrome. Other, less serious reasons include:

• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Hypervitaminosis A.
• Tumors of the spine
• Upper venous syndrome

What are the symptoms of a papilledema theme?

Symptoms of papilledema vary. It is often asymptomatic at first and is found by chance in fundus examination. However, as it progresses, the damage to the optic nerve fibers begins to produce clear symptoms.

The papilledema eventually impairs a person’s vision. The vision may be blurred, the person may see in two, or the vision may even disappear completely for a moment. Many patients also experience sensitivity to light contrast.

In most cases, vision loss only takes a few seconds. In addition, intracranial pressure itself causes symptoms, often such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting.

The headache is more intense when you wake up in the morning and usually gets better during the day. When the cause is meningitis, neck stiffness may occur.

Papilledema care

The main goal of treating papillema is to eliminate the factor behind the increase in intracranial pressure. It is important to keep in mind that this is an emergency. When caused by idiopathic hypertension, measures include reducing the amount of cerebrospinal fluid.

In this case, according to the Chilean Journal of Neurosurgery, diuretics such as mannitol or furosemide may be prescribed. Weight loss can also help, as can fluid and salt restriction.

In order for the cerebrospinal fluid to circulate properly,  it is advisable to raise the main side of the bed slightly. If none of these procedures work, surgery may be needed.

In the surgical approach, a lumbar puncture is made to drain the fluid. If the cause is an infection or the patient has a bacterial abscess, antibiotics are needed.

Papilledema theme: what to keep in mind

Papilledema should be remembered as a condition that affects the optic nerve. It is the result of increased intracranial pressure, which can occur in a number of different situations, but which usually have in common an increase in intracranial pressure.

One of the most common causes is idiopathic intracranial hypertension. However, it can also be triggered by brain tumors, cerebral hemorrhage, and infections. Papilledema should be treated urgently to prevent irreversible visual impairment.