what is iih

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) is a condition where high pressure around the brain causes symptoms like vision changes and headaches. It occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the liquid that cushions your spinal cord and brain, builds up in your skull, putting pressure on your optic nerve, the nerve that helps you see. IIH used to be known as pseudotumor cerebri because the symptoms resembled symptoms of a brain tumor. Experts don’t know what causes IIH, but being overweight or obese makes it more likely. IIH can also occur in children and adults who are not overweight, and these cases may be related to infection or to using antibiotics, steroids, or high doses of vitamin A. Your eye doctor will do several tests to check for signs of IIH, including a visual field test, a dilated eye exam, and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan. Treatment options for IIH include weight loss, medications, and surgery.