How does increased pressure inside the skull cause papilledema?

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eye disease An ophthalmologist performing LASIK eye surgery.

The optic nerve is surrounded by an extension of the membranes that enclose the brain. Because of this anatomical connection, increased pressure within the cranial cavity is transmitted directly along the covering of the optic nerve.

This transmission of pressure causes the optic nerve head to swell, a condition known as papilledema. This swelling is a critical clinical sign of elevated intracranial pressure; if the condition persists, it can lead to damage of the optic nerve fibers and subsequent vision loss.1