Optic disc edema, these three main causes are at work!

Papilledema is a common disease that occurs mostly in the elderly. Experts have found that the occurrence of this disease is inextricably linked to the three major causes of giant cell arteritis, systemic vascular disease, and blood diseases.

1. Giant cell arteritis (30%):

Vasculitis: giant cell arteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, systemic lupus erythematosus, Buergers disease, allergic vasculitis, postviral vasculitis, postimmunization, syphilis, radiation necrosis. Giant cell arteritis (GCA) was formerly known as cranial arteritis, temporal arteritis, and granulomatous arteritis. Later, it was recognized that any larger artery in the body can be affected, and it was named after its pathological characteristics. GCA is the most common systemic vasculitis in adults and has an unknown etiology. The disease primarily affects the extracranial branches of the carotid artery in patients over 50 years of age. The most serious complication of GCA is irreversible vision loss.

2. Systemic vascular disease (30%):

Systemic vascular diseases: hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, migraine, Takayasu arteritis, carotid artery obstructive lesions. Migraine is a type of recurrent headache that tends to run in families. It manifests as paroxysmal unilateral throbbing headache, accompanied by nausea, vomiting and photophobia, which recurs after a period of remission. Headaches are relieved in a quiet, dark environment or after sleep. Neurological and mental dysfunction may occur before or during a headache.

3. Blood diseases (20%):

Blood disorders: polycythemia vera, sickle cell disease, acute hypotension (shock), G-6-PD deficiency.

Postoperative cataract, hypotony, glaucoma.

It is more common in the elderly, over 60 years old. The age of onset in China is earlier than that in foreign countries. It is more common in females than in males. The disease may occur in one or both eyes successively. Any systemic disease or eye disease that can cause insufficient supply to the optic disc can cause this disease. Systemic diseases such as hypertension, arteriosclerosis, temporal arteritis, carotid artery occlusion, diabetes, leukemia and polycythemia can also cause it if the perfusion pressure of the small blood vessels of the optic disc and the intraocular pressure are out of balance. Due to changes in blood components and increased blood viscosity, blood circulation slows down and the oxygen carrying capacity decreases, resulting in optic disc hypoxia.