Optic Nerve Atrophy: Diagnosis and Treatment in the Best Clinics of Switzerland

Optic Nerve Atrophy: Diagnosis and Treatment in the Best Clinics of Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the world leaders in ophthalmology. Highly qualified specialists work here, using advanced technologies for the treatment of eye diseases. According to statistics, about 1.5% of all visits to an ophthalmologist are for optic nerve atrophy. This is one of the most severe ophthalmic pathologies that can cause complete vision loss.

This eye disease cannot be corrected with glasses or lenses. It is impossible to completely cure the disease. However, modern methods allow stopping degenerative processes and even achieving some improvement.

 CorSwiss will help you find the best specialists who use the most progressive methods, find ways to effectively combat pathology and avoid blindness.

What is optic nerve atrophy?

This is a pathological condition in which the optic nerve dies off.

The task of the optic nerve is to transmit information from the retina to the brain structures. When it gradually dies off, the light signal begins to be transmitted to the brain with distortions. This leads to a decrease in visual acuity, the appearance of blind spots, and a change in color perception.

There may be partial or complete optic nerve atrophy. In the second case, there is a complete loss of vision. There may also be primary and secondary atrophy.

Primary optic nerve atrophy

This form of pathology is diagnosed as an independent disease. Its peculiarity is that the optic disc becomes pale, but its borders remain clear. In this case, the retinal arteries are also noticeably narrowed.

Secondary optic nerve atrophy

It occurs against the background of some disease. With this form of pathology, pallor of the optic disc is also observed, but its borders become blurred. Most often, it is secondary atrophy that occurs.

What leads to optic nerve atrophy?

The most common causes of optic nerve damage include:

  • glaucoma, myopia, and a number of other ophthalmic diseases;
  • eye injuries;
  • infections;
  • diseases of the nervous system;
  • increased intraocular pressure;
  • vascular diseases;
  • the influence of toxic substances.

What are the symptoms of optic nerve atrophy

Characteristic symptoms include:

  • decreased visual acuity;
  • change in color perception;
  • limitation of visual fields;
  • the appearance of black spots in the field of vision.

What optic nerve diseases are treated in Switzerland?

The following optic nerve diseases are treated in Switzerland:

  • Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve and can lead to blindness. Glaucoma treatment in Switzerland is carried out using drug therapy, laser surgery, or microsurgery.
  • Optic nerve atrophy is a disease characterized by the gradual destruction of the optic nerve. The causes of optic nerve atrophy can be various, including diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, injuries, tumors, and other diseases. Optic nerve atrophy treatment in Switzerland is carried out using drug therapy, laser surgery, or microsurgery.
  • Optic nerve tumors are rare diseases that can be benign or malignant. Optic nerve tumor treatment in Switzerland is carried out using surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
  • Congenital optic nerve anomalies are diseases that occur as a result of genetic disorders or intrauterine injuries. Congenital optic nerve anomalies treatment in Switzerland is carried out using drug therapy, surgery, or other methods.

Which clinics in Switzerland specialize in the treatment of optic nerve diseases?

There are many clinics in Switzerland that specialize in the treatment of optic nerve diseases. Here are some of them:

  • Genolier Clinic is the largest private clinic in Switzerland. The clinic has an ophthalmology department that specializes in the treatment of optic nerve diseases, including glaucoma, optic nerve atrophy, optic nerve tumors, and other diseases.
  • Glaucoma Center in Lausanne is a specialized center that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. The center employs experienced ophthalmologists who use advanced technologies for the treatment of glaucoma.
  • Clinique de Montchoisi is a clinic that specializes in the treatment of ophthalmic diseases, including optic nerve diseases. The clinic employs highly qualified specialists who use advanced technologies for the treatment of eye diseases.

Diagnostics and determination of the degree of atrophy of the optic nerve in a clinic in Switzerland

Optic nerve research methods may include:

  • ophthalmoscopy;
  • eye ultrasound;
  • angiography of nearby vessels;
  • optical coherence tomography;
  • MRI.

The examination will allow you to accurately determine the degree of atrophy and find out other nuances of the condition. The earlier an accurate diagnosis is made and treatment is started, the more chances the patient will have to save their vision.

Optic nerve atrophy treatment in Swiss clinics

Traditionally, drug therapy is used for optic nerve atrophy. Various drugs can be prescribed:

  • drugs that improve blood supply to the optic nerve;
  • drugs that improve metabolism;
  • vitamin complex;
  • anti-inflammatories;
  • Nootropic drugs.

Physiotherapy is usually an additional method that the doctor prescribes simultaneously with drug therapy. The following can be used:

  • Electrostimulation;
  • Magnetotherapy;
  • Laser therapy.

Sometimes the doctor may recommend surgical treatment for optic nerve atrophy.

Standard methods of therapy can stop the progression of the disease. However, they do not give significant improvements and do not allow to restore the lost visual acuity. Therefore, there is a constant search for more effective methods of treating this condition.

New methods in the treatment of optic nerve atrophy in Switzerland

Cell therapy is one of the new effective methods of therapy. Stem cells are immature cells that are unique in that they can become cells of various organs and have a very high regeneration potential.

In ophthalmology, stem cells are most often taken from the bone marrow or from adipose tissue, but cells from the umbilical cord can also be used.

The stem cell preparation can be administered intraocularly and intravenously.

Studies have shown that the use of stem cells can improve optic nerve function by 70-90%. The use of cell therapy leads to the appearance of new neuronal connections, prevents the death of neurons, and increases the blood supply to the eye. As a result, an improvement in vision of about 30% is recorded. The effect appears after a few months and lasts for 1-3 years.

How is optic nerve damage treated with stem cells in Swiss clinics

  • The first step is to collect stem cells from the patient's adipose tissue or bone marrow.

  • The quality of the stem cells is checked to determine if they are suitable for the procedure. The cells are then grown in a special laboratory to the required quantity and prepared for the procedure.

  • At the third stage, the resulting preparation is injected into the eye near the optic nerve. This is a minimally invasive procedure that is well tolerated. The duration of such a procedure is 20-60 minutes.

In order to increase the effectiveness of treatment, cell therapy can be prescribed simultaneously with drug therapy and physiotherapy.

Before carrying out the procedure, it is necessary to undergo an examination and consult with an ophthalmologist, who, based on information about your health status, will decide whether this procedure is necessary.

How do stem cells affect the condition of the eyes

After the application of stem cells, the immune system is activated and regeneration processes begin in the eyeball. At first, there may be redness of the eye, discomfort in the eye area, and swelling. But these unpleasant symptoms go away within a few weeks.

After about a month, active recovery processes begin: regeneration of nerve fibers occurs, and blood circulation improves. These processes intensify over time and reach their maximum result approximately 6 months after the procedure. At the same time, in most patients, vision improves by 20-30%, but in some cases, the improvement may be more noticeable. The ability to distinguish colors may also be restored.

Advantages of the method:

  • The treatment gives a fairly quick result;
  • Long stay in the clinic is not required;
  • The procedure is well tolerated by patients;
  • In most cases, an improvement in vision is achieved;
  • This treatment can be carried out for any form of the disease.

How to choose a clinic for optic nerve treatment in Switzerland?

When choosing a clinic for optic nerve treatment in Switzerland, you should pay attention to the following factors:

  • Reputation of the clinic. Before choosing a clinic, you should read patient reviews about the clinic.
  • Qualifications of specialists. The clinic should employ experienced ophthalmologists who specialize in the treatment of optic nerve diseases.
  • Technologies used. The clinic should use advanced technologies for the treatment of optic nerve diseases.
  • Cost of treatment. The cost of treatment can vary greatly from clinic to clinic.

If you are considering optic nerve treatment in Switzerland, you should contact the specialized company CorSwiss , which will help you choose a clinic and organize your trip.