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

Vision problems are not uncommon with SSPE—sometimes the condition damages the retina and/or optic nerve. —Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 5 May 2025

Changes that can be detected during an examination, such as an enlarged blind spot and thickened retina owing to swelling where the optic nerve joins the retina (known as optic-disc oedema), are unlikely to be noticed by the affected person. —Neil Savage, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2025

Optic neuritis is an inflammation of the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eye to the brain. —Brandi Jones, Msn-Ed, Rn-Bc, Health, 24 Sep. 2024

Doctors know that the biggest risk factor for glaucoma is high intraocular pressure (IOP), which damages the optic nerve. —IEEE Spectrum, 25 July 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for optic nerve

• conserve
• deserve
• manoeuvre
• observe
• preserve
• reserve
• subserve
• curve
• mirv
• serve
• swerve
• verve

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