An aetiological profile of optic atrophy

484 cases of optic atrophy were studied for the distribution pattern and significance of various etiological factors in different age groups of both sexes. Bilateral optic atrophy was found to be two and a half times as common as unilateral optic atrophy. Intracranial neoplasm (29.5%) was the most frequent known cause of bilateral optic atrophy in either sex and the most common tumor was chromophobe adenoma (48% of intracranial tumors) with highest incidence over 20 years of age. Craniopharyngioma was the most frequent tumor responsible for bilateral optic atrophy before 20 years of age. Intracranial glioma also emerged as an important cause of bilateral optic atrophy. Head injury due to road accidents and periocular trauma were the most common causes of unilateral optic atrophy in males, whereas no definite factor could be elucidated in unilateral optic atrophy in females. Vascular factors were the usual cause of optic atrophy after 40 years of age, highlighting the significance of thorough systemic evaluation.