What issues are addressed by a neuro-ophthalmologist?

Neuro ophthalmology covers a wide range of specific visual problems that are related to the nervous system – eye problems that do not originate with the eyes themselves. Although some problems seen by neuro ophthalmologists are not worrisome, other conditions can worsen and cause permanent visual loss, or even become life-threatening. Some of the common problems evaluated by neuro ophthalmologists include optic nerve problems (such as optic neuritis and ischemic optic neuropathy), visual field loss, unexplained visual loss, transient visual loss, visual disturbances, double vision, abnormal eye movements, thyroid eye disease, myasthenia gravis, unequal pupil size, and eyelid abnormalities.

Patients with poorly defined visual symptoms or conditions that remain unresolved despite previous ophthalmic and neurologic evaluations may benefit from neuro-ophthalmic evaluation.