2. ◦The ophthalmic nerve is one of the three
branches of the trigeminal nerve. The
ophthalmic nerve carries only sensory fibers
3. ◦The ophthalmic nerve supplies branches to
the cornea, ciliary body, and iris; to
thelacrimal gland and conjunctiva; to the
part of the mucous membrane of the nasal
cavity; and to the skin of
the eyelids, eyebrow, forehead and nose.
4.
5. ◦It is the smallest of the three divisions
of the trigeminal, and arises from the
upper part of the trigeminal
ganglion as a short, flattened
band, about 2.5 cm. long, which
passes forward along the lateral wall
of the cavernous sinus, below
the oculomotor and trochlear nerves.
6. Damage to the ophthalmic nerve may
occur as the result of a blocked blood
supply caused by high blood
pressure or diabetes, or inflammationof
the arteries. Inflammation of
theophthalmic nerve itself, called optic
neuritis, if often caused by MS; and
papilledema, or swelling of the nerve, is
often brought on by head
trauma, meningitis or a brain abscess or
tumor.
7. ◦if the nerve is damaged before the
optic chiasm, the sight in only one
eye will be affected. If the optic
chiasm itself is damaged, peripheral
vision in both eyes will likely be lost.
Problems farther along one side of
the nerve, nearer to the brain, will
result in the opposite side of the visual
field in each eye being lost.
8. Ophthalmic migraines.- are a little
known form of migraine. Ophthalmic or
ocular migraines are sometimes called
silent migraines, because they can
occur with or without a headache
being present. They are characterized
by a visual disturbance that occurs in
one eye. Many ophthalmic migraineurs
describe the migraine as if they are
peering through a cracked glass
window.
9.
10. ◦ Tolosa–Hunt syndrome .- is a rare disorder
characterized by severe and unilateral
headaches with extraocular palsies, and
pain around the sides and back of the
eye, along with weakness and paralysis
(ophthalmoplegia) of certain eye muscles.
◦ affected individuals may experience
paralysis of various facial nerves and
drooping of the upper eyelid ( ptosis ).
Occasionally the patient may present with
a feeling of protrusion of one or both
eyeballs ( exophthalmos ).
