Authors: Cuneyt Karaarslan.
The optic nerve is the name of the visual nerve that takes the longest path within the skull, formed by the axonal extensions of specialized nerve cells of the retina. Raised edematous swelling in which the borders of the optic nerve head can be erased is called papilledema. Although the cause of papilledema cannot often be determined exactly, the real cause can be revealed with a detailed and careful examination. Unlike true papilledema, there is no increase in intracranial pressure in pseudo-papilledema, and therefore diagnosis and detection are more difficult. In the diagnosis of papilledema, it is very important to detect edematous swelling of the optic nerve head directly with the ophthalmoscope. However, a more detailed examination and anamnesis are often required for correct diagnosis. While there are many neurological and ophthalmic complaints and findings in true papilledema, neither applies to pseudo-papilledema. It is essential to distinguish all these conditions well for a successful and sequelfree treatment.
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