What is papilledema?

What is papilledema?

• A. Edema and inflammation of the optic nerve where it enters the retina due to blockage of venous return from the retina mainly because of increased ICP.
• B. The splitting of the lens.
• C. Inflammation of the iris only.
• D. Retinal detachment.

Answer: (A)

Papilledema is swelling of the optic disc (the point where the optic nerve enters the eye) caused by raised intracranial pressure. When pressure is high inside the skull, it is transmitted along the optic nerve sheath and impedes venous drainage from the retina. This venous congestion slows axoplasmic flow in the nerve fibers at the disc, leading to edema that makes the optic disc appear swollen with blurred margins. It’s typically bilateral and signals intracranial pathology rather than a local eye issue. It’s not related to lens changes (cataract), iris inflammation (anterior uveitis), or retinal detachment, which affect different structures or produce different signs.

Papilledema is swelling of the optic disc (the point where the optic nerve enters the eye) caused by raised intracranial pressure. When pressure is high inside the skull, it is transmitted along the optic nerve sheath and impedes venous drainage from the retina. This venous congestion slows axoplasmic flow in the nerve fibers at the disc, leading to edema that makes the optic disc appear swollen with blurred margins. It’s typically bilateral and signals intracranial pathology rather than a local eye issue. It’s not related to lens changes (cataract), iris inflammation (anterior uveitis), or retinal detachment, which affect different structures or produce different signs.