General Approach to Optic Neuropathies and Routine Examinations

Optic neuropathies are neuro-ophthalmological disorders characterized by decreased visual acuity, visual field defects and color vision changes as a result of damage to the optic nerve. The underlying causes, clinical features and treatments of optic neuropathies vary. Clarifying the etiology is very important in terms of visual prognosis and patient follow-up. Clinical history, examination findings, visual field, electrophysiological tests and imaging methods are used in diagnosis. In this article, the general characteristics, examination and ancillary diagnostic methods of optic neuropathies that develop due to different etiological reasons will be discussed