Neuro-ophthalmology

Neuro-ophthalmology is the subspecialty of both neurology and ophthalmology concerning visual problems that are related to the nervous system [1].

A neuro-ophthalmologist is a physician (neurologist or ophthalmologist) specializing in diseases affecting vision that originate from the nervous system.

Some commonly seen diseases that a neuro-ophthalmologist may see include optic neuritis, optic neuropathy, optic disc edema,ocular myasthenia gravis, brain tumors or stroke affecting vision, idiopathic intracranial hypertension or pseudotumor cerebri, unexplained visual loss, headaches and double vision.

Neuro-ophthalmologists are medical doctors who initially specialize in either neurology or ophthalmology, then do subspecialty training, through fellowships, in the complementary field. They are usually full-time faculty at large university-based medical centers, where they also do research and teach. Their referrals may come from neurologists, ophthalmologists, endocrinologists, or neuro-surgeons.

Neuro-ophthalmologists typically attend to diseases of the afferent visual system (most often involving the optic nerve), the efferent visual system (that controls eye movements), or the pupillary reflexes.

The largest international society of neuro-ophthalmologists is the North American Neuro-Ophthalmological Society (NANOS), which organizes an annual meeting and publish the specialized Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology.

Online Resources

The Neuro-Ophthalmology Virtual Education Library (NOVEL)

References

1. Frohman, L.P. Ophthalmology 2005;112(5):741-743

2. Doran, M. EyeNet 2009; 13(9):49-53