How can you tell these apart?

[determined1.]

---

Members don't see this ad.

- Optic atrophy
- Optic neuritis
- Papilledema
- Retinal infarction
- Retrobulbar neuritis

 

[Jabbed]

Carefully.

 

[animando]

You could add AION to your list 😛

not my favorite speciality at all, nevertheless I'd say:

atrophy is more chronic (so no "sudden vision loss"), is also hallmark of glaucoma (family? eye pressure?) and increased cup-to-disk ratio

(retrobulbar)neuritis is associated with change in color perception

infarction should be seen with funduscopy (pale retina with red spot vs stormy one), while neuritis may be and and retrobulbar neuritis should not be seen.

papilledema could be associated with brain mass effect or hydrocephalus or ...

So I'd suggest after careful history:
1) physical (especially funduscopy and RAPD)
2) blood test (esp. ESR)
3) MRI of head (and spine if suspicion of multiple sclerosis)

 

[determined1.]

Thanks animando for the information. I'm sure it will help many other students searching for info not only me.