Papilloedema differs from optic disc oedema due to optic neuritis in which characteristic?

• A Papilloedema is always bilateral; optic neuritis is always unilateral
• B Papilloedema causes pain on eye movement; optic neuritis does not
• C Visual acuity is characteristically preserved (initially) in papilloedema; markedly reduced in acute optic neuritis ✓
• D Colour vision is normal in papilloedema; always abnormal in optic neuritis

Explanation

The critical distinguishing feature: papilloedema from raised intracranial pressure typically preserves central visual acuity until late stages (there may be transient visual obscurations); the patient usually presents with headache and visual field enlargement of the blind spot. Acute optic neuritis causes rapid, often profound visual acuity loss with dyschromatopsia and pain on eye movement (present in about 90% of retrobulbar neuritis). While papilloedema is usually bilateral, unilateral papilloedema can occur.

Reference: Khurana Comprehensive Ophthalmology, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.