papilledema
Meaning of papilledema: Papilledema is swelling of the optic disc caused by raised pressure inside the skull, visible on examination of the eye.
Definition of papilledema
Papilledema is swelling of the optic disc, the point at which the optic nerve enters the back of the eye, caused by increased pressure within the skull. Because the optic nerve is surrounded by the same fluid filled coverings that surround the brain, elevated pressure within the skull is transmitted along the nerve and causes the disc to swell, a change that can be seen during an examination of the eye.
Papilledema can result from a range of causes, including a brain tumor, bleeding within the skull, blocked drainage of cerebrospinal fluid, and a condition called idiopathic intracranial hypertension, in which pressure rises without a clearly identifiable structural cause. It typically affects both eyes, since the pressure elevation causing it is generally distributed throughout the skull rather than confined to one side.
Because papilledema signals raised intracranial pressure, a finding with potentially serious underlying causes, it generally prompts further evaluation such as brain imaging to identify the specific cause.
Used in a sentence
Examination of the eye revealed papilledema, prompting urgent brain imaging to evaluate for raised intracranial pressure.
Good to know
Papilledema typically affects both eyes at once, distinguishing it from optic disc swelling caused by a problem limited to a single eye or optic nerve.
Word origin
Where “papilledema” comes from
Formed from Latin papilla, meaning nipple or small projection, referring to the optic disc, combined with the Greek term oidema, meaning swelling.