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What is it?

Neuro-ophthalmology is a field of medicine which studies and treats diseases of the nervous system that affect the visual system. This includes analysing ocular motility, the functionality of cranial nerves and of all the other nervous structures coordinating eye movement, which are integrated with other sensory systems.

Neuro-ophthalmology is a clinical and scientific subspecialty vital in identifying neurological conditions or systemic diseases.

What conditions does it treat?

Neuro-ophthalmology can treat and diagnose several conditions, including:

• Eyelid twitching and some types of adult strabismus
• Optic nerve tumour
• Cranial nerves palsy, gaze palsy and oculomotor nerve palsy
• Pupillary abnormalities, myopathy and ocular myasthenia gravis
• Hereditary retinal dystrophies and inflammatory optic neuropathies, be it or dysimmune or associated with multiple sclerosis (MS)

There are several conditions which can affect the visual system, thus interfacing with neuro-ophthalmology, such as:

• diabetes
• glaucoma
• multiple sclerosis
• cardiovascular disease
• infectious diseases

What symptoms can be traced back to a neuro-ophthalmologic condition?

The symptoms vary according to the condition you may be suffering from. However, the main and most common symptoms are functional visual loss, diplopia (or double vision), headache, ptosis (drooping eyelids), exophthalmos (bulging eyes) and pain.

What tests can you take?

Neuro-ophthalmologic conditions can be diagnosed by using tools and techniques such as a visual field test, optical coherence tomography (OCT) for looking at the cornea and retina, or an optical electrophysiology test.

Usually these tests can be done at an outpatient clinic: you will only need to stay in hospital if you need a complex diagnosis or complex treatment.

What doctor will you see?

The neuro-ophthalmology field is mainly composed of neurologists and ophthalmologists.