Abnormal optic nerve morphology Optic atrophy HP:0000648 HP:0007855 SNOMEDCT_US:76976005 The diagnosis of optic atrophy is made when the optic disc loses its normal orange-pink color. Optic atrophy is an end stage that arises from myriad causes of optic nerve damage anywhere along the path from the retina to the lateral geniculate. Some of the most common etiologies are advanced glaucoma, optic neuritis, arteritic or non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy or a compressive lesion. UMLS:C0029124 Atrophy of the optic nerve. Optic atrophy results from the death of the retinal ganglion cell axons that comprise the optic nerve and manifesting as a pale optic nerve on fundoscopy. Optic nerve atrophy Optic-nerve degeneration HP:0007751