Exploring effective treatments for Optic nerve atrophy: options, advances, and solutions

Optic nerve atrophy (ONA) is the result of various pathologies of the visual organ, in which the corresponding nerve is damaged. The optic nerve transmits visual signals from the retina to the brain, and when damaged, it causes a significant decrease in visual acuity, which may even lead to blindness. The main cause of ONA is glaucoma, an increase in intraocular pressure. A separate form of the disease is non-glaucomatous ONA, which is associated with a variety of other causes. Standard therapeutic approaches to this pathology do not always bring good results. If you want to save or improve your vision, you can undergo treatment for optic nerve atrophy abroad. Doctors in developed countries use innovative methods that can not only stop the progression of the pathology, but can also improve visual acuity.

Conservative therapy for ONA

The use of treatment methods for ONA depends on the origin of the pathology.

For the improvement of the trophism of the nerve, normalization of its blood supply and metabolic processes, enhancement of regeneration, and slowing down nerve degeneration, the following medications are used:

• Nootropics
• Microcirculation correctors
• Antioxidants
• Neuroprotectors
• Metabolic agents
• Vitamin supplements

Whenever possible, doctors make efforts to treat the cause of ONA. For example, antibiotics or antiviral medications may be prescribed for eye infections.

For inflammatory forms of ONA (neuritis), vascular forms (ischemic neuropathy) and traumatic injuries, corticosteroids work well: they are used in short courses at high doses. For the first three days, these drugs are administered by intravenous injections, and then physicians switch to oral administration. The total course of treatment is up to two weeks.

For the treatment of ONA caused by multiple sclerosis, interferons and glatiramer acetate are used.

Surgical treatment

Surgical interventions and laser procedures are often used to stop atrophy in patients with glaucoma. They are rarely used for non-glaucomatous ONA. But in some cases, surgery can improve nerve function or at least slow down further degeneration.

Here are some of the surgical interventions that can be used to treat this condition:

• Ligation of branches of the carotid arteries to improve blood supply to the optic nerve
• Extrascleral surgery to catheters through which medications are then administered
• Decompression surgery to eliminate venous congestion and reduce pressure on the optic nerve
• Choroidal revascularization to implant grafts into the suprachoroidal space to improve blood flow to the eye tissues

Surgery may also be performed for conditions that have caused secondary ONA, such as removal of an eye tumor or brain neoplasm.

Treatment with stem cell therapy

While surgery slows down nerve degeneration, cell therapy is aimed at nerve regeneration and vision rehabilitation. This direction in the treatment of ONA demonstrates good results: people experience partial recovery of vision under the influence of stem cells even several years after the onset of blindness.

Stem cells (SCs) are injected into various locations in the eye, possibly intravenously. Doctors use the patient’s own stem cells, so there are no rejection reactions or other complications: the procedure is safe and effective. The treatment method provides long-term results, lasting at least 6-12 months after the injection. If the causes of optic nerve atrophy are eliminated, even more lasting results can be achieved.

If you have ONA diagnosis, it means that you should start your treatment as soon as possible. The nerve has a limited ability to regenerate, so it is important to preserve the fibers that are still functioning. You may go abroad for your medical treatment. Doctors in developed countries are using innovative methods to treat optic nerve atrophy, including stem cell therapy, gene therapy for hereditary forms of optic neuropathy, and ophthalmic surgery. On the Booking Health website, you can find out prices for treatment and make an appointment at a clinic for your preferred dates. The Booking Health specialists will help you choose a clinic and take care of your travel arrangements.