Optic Nerve

The nerve that connects the eye to the brain and carries the impulses formed by the retina to the visual cortex. The optic nerve in the brain is about one-and-a-half inches in length, and contains approximately 1.2 million nerve fibers.

A disease of the hypothalamus in the base of the brain, optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) is today's leading cause of vision loss and blindness in children. Some ONH babies have abnormalities in the brain structure and brain function. Often they also have hormone deficiencies because the pituitary glad, which initiates hormone production, rests at the base of the brain. Such neurological peculiarities can lead to multiple symptoms, including delayed speech, motor skill problems, growth retardation, autistic behavior and seizures.

Under the direction of Mark S. Borchert, MD, The Eye Birth Defects Institute has been researching ONH for more than a decade. Dr. Borchert and his team are uncovering clues about genetic and geographic influences.

The below list are a few of the more common conditions related to the Optic Nerve

• Coloboma
• Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH)
• Septo-Optic Dysplasia