What is Peripapillary Atrophy and How is it Treated?

Peripapillary atrophy (PPA) is an eye condition caused when certain tissues around the optic nerve become thinner. It rarely has any symptoms and is usually spotted during a regular eye examination. 

A diagnosis isn’t usually anything to worry about. It can be found in healthy individuals and isn’t usually a cause for concern. There is currently no treatment for the condition. However, there’s increasing evidence that it can be associated with other eye-related diseases.

Understanding Peripapillary Atrophy

• A simple explanation of peripapillary atrophy
• A deeper dive into “what is peripapillary atrophy and how is it treated?”

A simple explanation of peripapillary atrophy

The condition describes the thinning, stretching, or degeneration of the eye tissues in the area around the optic nerve—a structure that starts at the back of the eye and is connected to the brain. In the healthy eye, the area is pink or red. If you’re diagnosed with peripapillary atrophy, these tissues will have shrunk and become white, black, or yellow.

It causes an abnormal view of the optic nerve that’s picked up during a regular, dilated eye examination and 

PPA can occur in an eye or eyes that are otherwise healthy. However, it can be a sign of another disease, such as glaucoma, or in combination with extreme myopia (nearsightedness).

A deeper dive into “what is peripapillary atrophy and how is it treated?”

While the condition is generally not associated with vision loss, the connection with glaucoma will mean you’ll need further investigations.

The very first thing your eye doctor will do if PPA is suspected or diagnosed will be to look carefully for any evidence of glaucoma. This is a condition where the pressure within the eye increases, causing damage to the structures within. Glaucoma is treated in a variety of ways, including oral medication, eye drops, and surgery.

It’s important to stress that most cases of peripapillary atrophy are benign, have no symptoms, and don’t progress.

However, if it covers a larger area around the optic nerve and/or continues to worsen, this is very strongly linked to glaucoma. In such cases, while there is no treatment for the PPA itself, your eye doctor will want to carry out dilated eye examinations annually (or more frequently), to monitor the progression.

While a diagnosis of PPA is, naturally, very concerning, the crucial takeaway is that monitoring it is hugely beneficial to your ongoing visual health. The condition is a relatively new discovery (in the 1970s) and its relevance to other eye conditions is still an area under research. However, it’s a great example of why everyone should keep up to date with their eye exams throughout life.

Whatever the state of your eye health, early diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment are the keys to your best vision. So, be sure to keep those regular appointments to benefit from the best eyesight.

Book Your Examination Today: Peripapillary Atrophy is Just One Example of Why You Need Regular Eye Tests

Many, many eye conditions have no symptoms, Peripapillary atrophy is just one of them—and even though this is normally nothing to worry about, it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis to ensure future eye health and treatment.

The West Boca Eye Center provides its patients with the very best, cutting-edge eye care. The field of optical health is constantly advancing. Scientific studies constantly bring new awareness to visual health, eye structure, and related conditions. Partnering with us for your ongoing or specific eye care means you’ll be among the first in the country to benefit when new treatment options become available.

Discover more about us at https://www.westbocaeyecenter.com/ and call to speak to our friendly team today.

Peripapillary atrophy (PPA) is an eye condition caused when certain tissues around the optic nerve become thinner. It rarely has any symptoms and is usually spotted during a regular eye examination.