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

Context: Restoring vision requires regenerating an optic nerve, which scientists haven't been able to achieve to date, per the American Academy of Ophthalmology. —Esteban L. Hernandez, Axios, 3 Dec. 2024

Glaucoma Glaucoma causes damage to the optic nerve. —Vanessa Caceres, Verywell Health, 21 Nov. 2024

Canter suffered multiple injuries, including fractures to her left orbital bone, optic nerve canal and anterior skull base as well as multiple sinus fractures, severe bruising and internal bleeding. —Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 4 Nov. 2024

After Neuralink announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Blindsight had received the breakthrough device designation, Musk wrote: The Blindsight device from Neuralink will enable even those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve to see. —IEEE Spectrum, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

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