Your doctor may diagnose you with papilledema if your optic disc, which is at the end of the optic nerve, looks abnormally blurry or high up. Your doctor might also see spots of blood in your eye if you have this condition. If your doctor believes a brain condition is causing papilledema, they'll do additional tests.

How do I know if I have papilledema?

Symptoms of Papilledema

Fleeting vision changes—blurred vision, double vision, flickering, or complete loss of vision—typically lasting seconds are characteristic of papilledema. Other symptoms may be caused by the elevated pressure in the brain. Headache, nausea, vomiting, or a combination may occur.

How do you rule out papilledema?

Eye doctors use a tool called an ophthalmoscope to look inside the back of the eyes and diagnose papilledema. An imaging test, such as an MRI, can provide more details and possibly show what's causing the pressure in your brain. Later on, MRIs can measure how well treatment is working.