Idiopathic Optic Nerve Glioma: A Case Report

Optic nerve gliomas are tumors that develop along the optic nerve pathway, most often classified as pilocytic astrocytomas. These growths are typically benign, especially in young children between the ages of one and six years, while the rarer malignant types are generally more aggressive and tend to appear in adults. Characteristically slow-growing, optic nerve gliomas are commonly located in the pre-chiasmal part of the optic nerve but can extend to post-chiasmal regions and into the brain if left untreated. We describe a case of a one-year-old boy who visited our ophthalmology clinic with symptoms of eye prominence and deviation in his right eye after undergoing chemotherapy. Clinical findings and additional assessments supported an optic nerve glioma diagnosis. This case underlines the significance of early detection and a collaborative approach among ophthalmologists, neurosurgeons, radiologists, and histopathologists for effective management and to limit disease progression.