Optic neuritis is an inflammation of theoptic nerve.
The optic nerve is the bundle of nerve fibers that connects your eye to your brain.
The optic nerve transmits visual information to the brain.
A.D.A.M.
The optic nerve is covered by a fatty material calledmyelinthat acts as insulation.
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.
Symptoms
Optic neuritis often causes vision loss and pain upon moving the eye.
This pain is due to stretching of the inflamed optic nerve covering.Flashes of lightmay also occur with eye movement.
Causes
Optic neuritis can be brought on by many diseases and conditions.
This means that you have optic neuritis for an unknown reason or undetermined cause.
Other causes of optic neuritis include the following.
Diagnosis
Your eye doctor may detect signs of optic neuritis during a dilated eye exam.
They may see a swollen or elevated optic nerve head.
Also, yourvisual acuitymay be reduced, and you may notice blind spots ordim areasin your field of vision.
Color vision may also be affected.
Your healthcare provider may order an MRI and additional blood tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
Many patients with optic neuritis improve without treatment.
Treatment often depends on how soon the condition is diagnosed after you first notice symptoms.
Some people suffer severe side effects while being treated with steroids.
If you develop any sudden severe side effects, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
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.
Wilhelm H, Schabet M.The diagnosis and treatment of optic neuritis.Deutsches Arzteblatt international.
2015;112(37):616-625. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2015.0616
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Optic neuritis.
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).
Kahloun R, Abroug N, Ksiaa I, et al.Infectious optic neuropathies: a clinical update.Eye Brain.
Lekarstvenno-indutsirovannaya toksicheskaya opticheskaya nevropatiya[Drug-induced toxic optic neuropathy].Vestn Oftalmol.
2020;136(4):156-164. 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 drug side effects of corticosteroids.
Hospital for Special Surgery.
2017;69(4):489-496. doi:10.1111/jphp.12710
Cleveland Clinic.Thrush.
Morrow MJ, Wingerchuk D.Neuromyelitis optica.Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology.
2012;32(2):154-166. doi:10.1097/WNO.0b013e31825662f1
