Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Oct 30, 2025 3 hours, 2 minutes ago
Medical News: A new study from researchers at the University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital has shed light on who is most at risk of losing vision from a condition known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). This disorder causes high pressure around the brain without any clear cause, leading to headaches, vision problems, and in some cases, blindness if not treated. The study, recently published in Neurology, helps explain how this damage happens and identifies early warning signs.
Young Women Face Growing Risk of Vision Loss from Brain Pressure Disorder
What the Study Found
According to this
Medical News report, idiopathic intracranial hypertension mainly affects young women, especially those who are overweight. The research involved 154 patients, 96 percent of whom were women, with an average age of 28. Almost all had papilledema—swelling of the optic disc in the eye caused by elevated fluid pressure. The study found that 69 percent of patients developed scotomas, or blind spots in their vision, and 26 percent suffered from reduced visual sharpness.
Even after successful treatment to reduce the swelling, half of the participants continued to experience blind spots, and 13 percent still had reduced visual clarity. While no one went completely blind, the study showed that some damage could be long-lasting, depending on how the retina and optic nerve were affected.
How Vision Loss Develops
Researchers identified two main mechanisms responsible for vision problems in people with IIH. In the first, increased papilledema caused the outer layer of nerve fibers in the retina to thin, leading to blind spots in the outer field of vision. In the second, more severe cases of papilledema caused damage to the macula—the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed sight. This damage resulted in permanent blurring or loss of visual clarity even after the swelling improved.
A New Way to Predict Vision Risk
To help doctors detect early risk, the researchers developed a new “visual outcome score.” This assessment can predict which patients are most likely to develop lasting vision problems. The score is based on the severity of papilledema and the degree of disorganization in the inner retinal layer. Although still awaiting external validation, this new tool could allow for quicker diagnosis and customized treatment plans to prevent irreversible damage.
Why This Study Matters
The researchers from Odense University Hospital and the University of Southern Denmark emphasized the need for early diagnosis and consistent monitoring. Their findings suggest that the intensity of papilledema and the structural changes within the retina are more important predictors of long-term vision problems than previously thought.
If left untreated, idiopathic intracranial hypertension can silently cause permanent visual damage even when symptoms seem mild. The study’s insights
could help ophthalmologists and neurologists intervene earlier and protect the eyesight of patients who might otherwise go undiagnosed.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Neurology.
https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214335
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/ophthalmology-(eye-diseases)
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/glaucoma-news
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