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Optic nerve glioma
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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[ Symptoms of optic nerve glioma
It manifests itself in the first decade of life as a slow decrease in vision, then exophthalmos occurs, although sometimes the sequence of events can be reversed.
The following signs of optic nerve glioma are distinguished:
- Dysfunction of the optic nerve with visual impairment is proportional to the degree of exophthalmos.
- The optic disc is initially edematous, later becoming atrophic.
- Opticociliary vascular shunts are sometimes visible.
- May spread intracranially towards the chiasm and hypothalamus.
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Treatment of optic nerve glioma
Treatment of optic nerve glioma depends on the posterior extent of the tumor.
- Observation is indicated in the absence of signs of growth, good vision and absence of cosmetic defects.
- Surgical removal with preservation of the eye is indicated in case of tumor growth, especially with low vision and severe exophthalmos.
- Radiation therapy in combination with chemotherapy is indicated for intracranial spread, in which case removal is not possible.
The prognosis is mixed. Some tumors are dormant and grow very slowly, while others progress intracranially and are life-threatening.
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