optic nerve

noun

: either of the second pair of cranial nerves that pass from the retina to the optic chiasma and conduct visual stimuli to the brain see eye illustration

Examples of optic nerve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The retina plays a critical role in the process of vision, converting light into neural signals that are then sent to the brain through the optic nerve. George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024 The images captured by the device are combined to create a detailed 3D model of your inner eye, highlighting the intricate structures such as the fovea, optic nerve, and Henle fibers. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 The Lake Elsinore, California, native was born with optic nerve hypoplasia and diagnosed with autism at age 4. Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2024 The good news was that doctors knew almost instantly what was wrong with me (optic neuritis, or inflammation of the optic nerve) and how to treat it (five days of intravenous steroids). Erika Fry, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2024 Glaucoma Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, which connects the eye's retina to the brain, when too much pressure is put on the eye. Kristin Canning, Health, 30 June 2023 These images are then processed and brought together to yield a comprehensive model showcasing the eye's intricate inner structures, including the fovea, optic nerve, and Henle fibers. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 No one could really operate on me at that moment and there really wasn't anything that could be done anyway because that inflammation that had caused my strokes was causing compression on my optic nerve and reducing the blood flow. Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 19 Jan. 2024 The goal of glaucoma treatments is to reduce the pressure within the eye that is responsible for damage to the optic nerve. Amy Marturana Winderl, Cpt, Health, 25 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'optic nerve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of optic nerve was in 1615

Dictionary Entries Near optic nerve

Cite this Entry

“Optic nerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optic%20nerve. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

optic nerve

noun
: either of a pair of sensory nerves that are the second pair of cranial nerves and carry visual information from the retina of the eye to the brain

Medical Definition

optic nerve

noun
: either of the pair of sensory nerves that comprise the second pair of cranial nerves, arise from the ventral part of the diencephalon, form an optic chiasma before passing to the eye and spreading over the anterior surface of the retina, and conduct visual stimuli to the brain

called also second cranial nerve

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