Contributor. Gordon K. Klintworth
A wide variety of disorders can result in optic atrophy. They include several genetically determined conditions (Leber optic atrophy, Kjer optic atrophy [optic atrophy - Kjer type], optic atrophy 2, optic atrophy 3, optic atrophy 4, and glaucomatous optic atrophy [optic atrophy - glaucomatous]. Optic atrophy is also a manifestation of numerous inherited syndromes including  rhizomelic Conradi syndrome [Conradi syndrome - rhizomelic], Behr syndrome, Costeff syndrome, and Rosenberg-Chutorran syndrome. Other causes of optic atrophy are glaucoma, papilledema, and infections (tabes dorsalis, brucellosis). Optic atrophy appears to a combination of a descending optic atrophy [optic atrophy - descending] and an ascending optic atrophy [optic atrophy - ascending]. be secondary to lesions in the central nervous system and optic nerve (descending optic atrophy), as well to a destruction of neurons in the retina (ascending optic atrophy). A special type of optic atrophy is cavernous optic atrophy.