Ophthalmology
Neuro-Ophthalmology
• Eyes
– intimately related to the brain
• Give diagnostic clues to CNS disorders
• IC Disease - visual disturbance
CN III, IV, VI – EOM
CN V, VII – also associated with ocular
function
Anatomy of the Optic
Nerve
• Trunk consisting of about 1 million axons
arising from the ganglion cells of the
retina
Ganglion Cells axons nerve
fiber layer of the retina OPTIC
NERVE
Anatomy of the Optic Nerve
• Portions:
Orbital Portion: 25-30 mm long within the
muscle cone
Intraosseous Portion: 4-9 mm
Intracranial Portion: 10 mm
Diameter: 1.5 mm (within the sclera)
3 mm (within the orbit)
80%: visual fibers
20%: pupillary fibers
Optic Nerve
Sheaths of the Optic Nerve
Continous with the meninges
• PIA
– fibrous tissue with numerous small blood
vessel
– divides the nerve into bundles
– continues to the sclera
Sheaths of the Optic Nerve
Continous with the meninges
• ARACHNOID
– from the IC end of optic foramen to sclera
– diaphanous connective tissue membrane
with many septate connections with PIA
Sheaths of the Optic Nerve
Continous with the meninges
• DURA
– splits into 2: periorbita (lining the orbital
cavity) and outer dural covering of the optic
nerve
– continous with outer 2/3 of sclera
Sheaths of the Optic Nerve
Continous with the meninges
• SPACES
– Subdural
– Subarachnoid
Sheaths of the Optic Nerve
Visual Pathway