What is the cause of Optic Atrophy?
There are many different causes of optic atrophy. Often no cause can be identified and the condition is unexplained. This is often called ‘Idiopathic’. Recognised causes of optic atrophy include: • Problems during pregnancy, labour and the early days of a baby’s life that result in poor oxygen and blood supply to the baby can lead to optic atrophy • Infection of a child’s brain (meningitis) can sometimes cause optic atrophy • Some specific optic atrophy conditions are known to run in families • Other optic atrophy conditions can occur for the first time in a family as a result of marrying a cousin or a more distant relative • Occasionally some diseases of the baby’s metabolism can cause optic atrophy • Some drugs if taken during pregnancy are associated with the development of optic atrophy • If pressure is applied to an optic nerve by a growing mass then optic atrophy can occur.
