title: Nutrition and optic nerve disease.
abstract: The syndrome characterized by papillomacular bundle damage, central or cecocentral scotoma, and reduction of color vision can be produced by toxic, nutritional, or hereditary causes. Patients who present with such a picture should be evaluated for toxic sources such as tobacco or alcohol use. Nutritional deficiencies must be considered and a good family history should be obtained to explore hereditary factors. DNA mutation analysis is available to detect genetic abnormalities. A trial of nutritional replacement may be advisable even in the face of normal laboratory values. Previous reports have shown dramatic visual improvement with intramuscular hydroxocobalamin and other oral vitamin B complexes, even when specific deficiencies are not found.
authors.affiliation: Neuro-Ophthalmology Department, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Woon
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pardo
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000550:Amblyopia / Q000209:etiology; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000150:complications; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014794:Visual Fields