In neuroanatomy, the optic nerve, also known as the second cranial nerve, cranial nerve II, or simply CN II, is a paired cranial nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain. In humans, the optic nerve is derived from optic stalks during the seventh week of development and is composed of retinal ganglion cell axons and glial cells; it extends from the optic disc to the optic chiasma and continues as the optic tract to the lateral geniculate nucleus, pretectal nuclei, and superior colliculus.

'ऑप्टिक तंत्रिका, अथवा ' द्वितीय कपालीय तंत्रिका, रेटिना से मस्तिष्क तक दृश्य सम्बंधित जानकारियां संचारित करती है।