optic atrophy definition
Optic atrophy is the final common morphologic endpoint of any disease process that causes axon degeneration in the retinogeniculate pathway. Clinically, optic atrophy manifests as changes in the color and the structure of the optic disc associated with variable degrees of visual dysfunction. Optic atrophy is actually a misnomer; in the strict histologic definition, atrophy refers to involution of a structure resulting from prolonged disuse.