Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Myelin helps electrical impulses travel quickly along the nerve. It is commonly believed that optic neuritis develops when the body’s own immune system attacks this tissue. Most cases of optic neuritis occur in women who are between the ages of 18 and 50.
A.D.A.M.
Other causes of optic neuritis include the following.
Your eye doctor may detect signs of optic neuritis during a dilated eye exam. They may see a swollen or elevated optic nerve head. Debris, cells or fluid from your immune system may also be present on theretina.Sometimes, you may notice symptoms before your optic nerve shows signs of swelling, a condition referred to as retrobulbar optic neuritis.Your healthcare provider may also notice a difference in the way yourpupilsreact to light. Also, yourvisual acuitymay be reduced, and you may notice blind spots ordim areasin your field of vision. Color vision may also be affected.
To obtain an accurate diagnosis of optic neuritis, your practitioner will perform acomprehensive eye exam, including dilation, a color vision test, and a visual field test. Your healthcare provider may order an MRI and additional blood tests to confirm the diagnosis. He or she may discover abnormalities during visual field testing, color vision testing, and visual acuity testing that will aid in the diagnosis.
After an episode of optic neuritis, your vision may return to normal or close to normal within six months.
A Word From Verywell
Optic neuritis sometimes recurs and requires retreatment. A small group of people has continued recurrence of the disease and requires ongoing treatment. Over time, about 50 percent of patients with optic neuritis will develop other neurological symptoms that may suggest the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.Patients with more severe optic neuritis may have a condition called neuromyelitis optica.This condition requires diagnosis with a blood test.
15 Sources
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Wilhelm H, Schabet M.The diagnosis and treatment of optic neuritis.Deutsches Ärzteblatt international. 2015;112(37):616-625. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2015.0616Johns Hopkins Medicine.Optic neuritis.Braithwaite T, Wiegerinck N, Petzold A, Denniston A.Vision loss from atypical optic neuritis: patient and physician perspectives.Ophthalmol Ther. 2020;9(2):215-220. doi:10.1007/s40123-020-00247-9Khan B, Nasir S, Hanif S.Bilateral optic neuritis: a rare complication of mumps.Cureus. 2020;12(4):e7768. doi:10.7759/cureus.7768The Optic Neuritis Study Group.Multiple sclerosis risk after optic neuritis: final optic neuritis treatment trial follow-up.Arch Neurol. 2008;65(6). doi:10.1001/archneur.65.6.727Medline Plus.Optic neuritis.Kahloun R, Abroug N, Ksiaa I, et al.Infectious optic neuropathies: a clinical update.Eye Brain. 2015;7:59-81. doi:10.2147/EB.S69173Ostroumova OD, Chikh EV, Rebrova EV, Ryazanova AY, Arzhimatova GSh, Moshetova LK.Drug-induced toxic optic neuropathy.Vestn oftal’mol. 2020;136(4):156. doi:10.17116/oftalma2020136041156Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.Retrobulbar neuritis.Hoorbakht H, Bagherkashi F.Optic neuritis, its differential diagnosis and management.Open Ophthalmol J. 2012;6:65-72. doi:10.2174/1874364101206010065Fields, TR.Steroid side effects: how to reduce corticosteroid side effects.Hospital for Special Surgery.Bai S, Dormer N, Shoults C, et al.Palatability of a novel oral formulation of prednisone in healthy young adults.Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2017;69(4):489-496. doi:10.1111/jphp.12710CDC.Medications that weaken your immune system and fungal infections.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Optic Neuritis.Morrow MJ, Wingerchuk D.Neuromyelitis optica.Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology. 2012;32(2):154-166. doi:10.1097/WNO.0b013e31825662f1
Wilhelm H, Schabet M.The diagnosis and treatment of optic neuritis.Deutsches Ärzteblatt international. 2015;112(37):616-625. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2015.0616
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Optic neuritis.
Braithwaite T, Wiegerinck N, Petzold A, Denniston A.Vision loss from atypical optic neuritis: patient and physician perspectives.Ophthalmol Ther. 2020;9(2):215-220. doi:10.1007/s40123-020-00247-9
Khan B, Nasir S, Hanif S.Bilateral optic neuritis: a rare complication of mumps.Cureus. 2020;12(4):e7768. doi:10.7759/cureus.7768
The Optic Neuritis Study Group.Multiple sclerosis risk after optic neuritis: final optic neuritis treatment trial follow-up.Arch Neurol. 2008;65(6). doi:10.1001/archneur.65.6.727
Medline Plus.Optic neuritis.
Kahloun R, Abroug N, Ksiaa I, et al.Infectious optic neuropathies: a clinical update.Eye Brain. 2015;7:59-81. doi:10.2147/EB.S69173
Ostroumova OD, Chikh EV, Rebrova EV, Ryazanova AY, Arzhimatova GSh, Moshetova LK.Drug-induced toxic optic neuropathy.Vestn oftal’mol. 2020;136(4):156. doi:10.17116/oftalma2020136041156
Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School.Retrobulbar neuritis.
Hoorbakht H, Bagherkashi F.Optic neuritis, its differential diagnosis and management.Open Ophthalmol J. 2012;6:65-72. doi:10.2174/1874364101206010065
Fields, TR.Steroid side effects: how to reduce corticosteroid side effects.Hospital for Special Surgery.
Bai S, Dormer N, Shoults C, et al.Palatability of a novel oral formulation of prednisone in healthy young adults.Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2017;69(4):489-496. doi:10.1111/jphp.12710
CDC.Medications that weaken your immune system and fungal infections.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Optic Neuritis.
Morrow MJ, Wingerchuk D.Neuromyelitis optica.Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology. 2012;32(2):154-166. doi:10.1097/WNO.0b013e31825662f1
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