Papilledema as a sign of intracranial hypertension

Papilledema (choked disk) is a sign of intracranial hypertension (ICH) - condition that presents danger not only for patient's vision, but also for their life. Despite the fact that ICH is usually a neurosurgical pathology, sometimes an ophthalmologist is the first doctor such patients visit, most often in a primary healthcare clinic. At the same time, as practice shows, not all ophthalmologists are well aware about in this pathology; difficulties occur in differential diagnosis of papilledema against similar changes of the optic nerve head seen during ophthalmoscopic examination. This article reviews scientific literature on ICH, including benign ICH, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of papilledema. The authors also share their decades-long experience of working in a neurosurgical facility.