optic nerve

noun

Definition of optic nerve

: 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

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Born in Japan with full vision, Ms. Hashimoto trained as a classical ballet dancer into her teenage years, when her sight began deteriorating because of optic nerve atrophy. — Serena Solomon, New York Times, "How to Convey Dance to Those Without Sight? All Hands On," 17 May 2018 Diagnosed at around age 5 with optic nerve atrophy, an incurable and often progressive disease that damages the nerve connecting the eyes to the brain, Terri doesn’t just defy conventional images of blindness. — Peg Rosen, Good Housekeeping, "Blindness Can't Stop Me from Living the Life I Want to Live," 14 Sep. 2018 Anything that stimulated his optic nerve was fair game. — Amy Fine Collins, Town & Country, "What It Was Like Dressing Up For Bill Cunningham," 15 Aug. 2018 Her cancer had spread from her left eye to her right optic nerve and spine, and around her brain and spinal cord, the legal complaint says. — Daniel Chang, miamiherald, "'They killed my kid.' Parents sue renowned doctor, hospital after children die of cancer | Miami Herald," 21 May 2018 Glaucoma, which damages the optic nerve, normally starts with peripheral vision losses that sometimes aren't obvious to the patient. — Bruce Henderson, charlotteobserver, "Older drivers are linked to fatal crashes. Is 10 years too long between DMV eye exams? | Charlotte Observer," 16 May 2018 Biologically speaking, that light tricks the optic nerve into thinking it’s still time to be awake instead of allowing the natural release of melatonin and serotonin in the body to signal the end of the waking day. — Katie Parsons, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Americans aren't sleeping enough, but early risers might live longer," 31 May 2018 About two weeks after Murray removed Salette's eye, a pathology report confirmed that the cancer had spread to her optic nerve. — Daniel Chang, miamiherald, "'They killed my kid.' Parents sue renowned doctor, hospital after children die of cancer | Miami Herald," 21 May 2018 The tumor had done the most damage to her optic nerves, leaving her legally blind in her left eye and with only half the vision in her right. — Andrea Simakis, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Clinic, parents clash over girl's brain tumor treatment; court to decide," 13 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'optic nerve.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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The first known use of optic nerve was in 1615

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optic nerve

noun

Medical Definition of optic nerve

: 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