Treatment options

Comprehensive diagnostic work-up and longitudinal monitoring

Neuro-ophthalmologic conditions often require detailed functional and structural assessments. At AMC, we employ advanced diagnostic tools including visual field testing, optical coherence tomography (OCT), color vision evaluation, and brain imaging (MRI, CT) to localize lesions and determine etiology. Serial examinations are performed to monitor disease progression, treatment response, and potential neurological deterioration.

Multidisciplinary treatment planning

Many neuro-ophthalmic disorders are manifestations of systemic or neurological diseases. Our specialists work in close collaboration with departments such as neurology, neurosurgery, internal medicine, and radiology to deliver coordinated, disease-specific care. This multidisciplinary approach is particularly critical in cases involving brain tumors, vascular lesions, autoimmune diseases, or elevated intracranial pressure.

Medical management

Depending on the underlying diagnosis, treatment may include corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, or disease-specific medication. Inflammatory, ischemic, and demyelinating conditions affecting the optic nerve are treated based on current evidence-based protocols.

Management of diplopia (double vision)

For patients experiencing persistent diplopia due to cranial nerve palsy or ocular misalignment, options include prism glasses to align the visual axes non-surgically. In cases where conservative approaches are insufficient, strabismus surgery may be offered to restore binocular vision and improve quality of life.

Major diseases

• Optic neuropathies

  These include a broad range of conditions such as optic neuritis (often associated with multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder), ischemic optic neuropathy, and compressive optic neuropathies caused by tumors or structural lesions. Patients typically present with sudden or progressive visual loss, often accompanied by color vision deficits or visual field defects.

• Papilledema

  Swelling of the optic disc due to elevated intracranial pressure. This is a critical neuro-ophthalmic emergency that may indicate serious underlying conditions such as brain tumors, cerebral venous thrombosis, or idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH).

• Visual field defects

  Loss of part of the visual field caused by lesions anywhere along the visual pathway, from the retina to the occipital cortex. Common causes include stroke, brain tumors, traumatic brain injury, and demyelinating disease. Pattern of field loss (e.g., bitemporal hemianopia, homonymous hemianopia) often provides clues to the lesion location.

• Ocular motor nerve palsies

  Dysfunction of cranial nerves III (oculomotor), IV (trochlear), or VI (abducens) leading to double vision, abnormal eye movements, and ptosis. Causes range from microvascular ischemia to aneurysms, tumors, and various brainstem lesions.

• Myasthenia gravis with ocular involvement

  An autoimmune neuromuscular disorder presenting with fluctuating ptosis and diplopia. Ocular myasthenia can be isolated or progress to generalized disease.

The Performance of AMC

The Neuro-Ophthalmology Section at AMC is one of the few specialized units in Korea with a dedicated team handling high-volume and high-complexity neuro-visual cases. Our clinicians have published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to guidelines on the diagnosis and management of optic neuropathies and ocular motor dysfunction.