Nerve atrophy, if very severe, can lead to blindness, but if treated promptly, the condition can usually be stabilized and residual vision preserved. Optic nerve atrophy can have many causes, such as glaucoma, optic neuritis, and ischemic optic neuropathy. Once optic nerve atrophy occurs, it is irreversible and cannot restore lost visual function. If optic nerve atrophy is not treated in a timely manner and continues to worsen, it may eventually cause blindness. If optic nerve atrophy occurs, the patient should follow the doctor’s instructions to treat the cause of the disease. For example, patients with glaucoma can have their intraocular pressure lowered by surgery, while patients with optic neuritis and ischemic optic neuropathy can have their remaining vision preserved by hormone therapy and by improving the blood supply to the optic nerve.