Papilledema occurs when increased pressure from the brain and cerebrospinal fluid is placed on the optic nerve. This causes the nerve to swell as it enters the eyeball at the optic disc. There are some serious medical conditions that can cause this increased pressure to develop, including: head trauma.

What is the most common cause of papilledema?

Possible conditions causing high intracranial pressure and papilledema include intracerebral mass lesions, cerebral hemorrhage, head trauma, meningitis, hydrocephalus, spinal cord lesions, impairment of cerebral sinus drainage, anomalies of the cranium, and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH).

What causes pressure on the optic nerve?

Optic nerve compression occurs when a mass (like a tumor or a build-up of pus or other fluid) forms in the brain and presses on the optic nerve, causing eye pressure.