|
Optic neuritis
Definition
Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve. It may cause sudden, reduced vision in the affected eye.
Causes
The cause of optic neuritis is unknown. Sudden inflammation of the optic nerve (the nerve connecting the eye and the brain) leads to swelling and destruction of its outer shell, called the myelin sheath. The inflammation may occasionally be the result of a viral infection, or it may be caused by autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Risk factors are related to the possible causes.
Symptoms
- Acute loss of vision in one eye
- Loss of color vision
- Pain on movement of the eye
- Changes in the pupil's reactions to bright light
Exams and Tests
A complete medical examination is usually used to rule out associated diseases. Tests may include the following:
Treatment
Visual acuity often returns to normal within 2 - 3 weeks with no treatment.
Corticosteroids given by an IV may speed up recovery but can cause body-wide side effects.
Further tests may be needed to determine the cause of the neuritis, and the condition causing the problem would then be treated.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Patients who have optic neuritis without an underlying disease such as multiple sclerosis have a good chance of recovery. Optic neuritis resulting from multiple sclerosis or other autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with a poorer visual outcome.
Possible Complications
- Body-wide side effects from corticosteroids
- Vision loss
About 20% of patients with a first episode of optic neuritis will develop multiple sclerosis.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider immediately if sudden loss of vision in one eye occurs.
If you have optic neuritis, call your health care provider if vision decreases, pain in the eye develops, or if symptoms do not improve with treatment.
Email to a Friend
Typical mistypes for Optic neuritis
iptic neuritis, kptic neuritis, lptic neuritis, pptic neuritis, 0ptic neuritis, 9ptic neuritis, ootic neuritis, oltic neuritis, o-tic neuritis, o0tic neuritis, opric neuritis, opfic neuritis, opgic neuritis, opyic neuritis, op6ic neuritis, op5ic neuritis, optuc neuritis, optjc neuritis, optkc neuritis, optoc neuritis, opt9c neuritis, opt8c neuritis, optix neuritis, optiv neuritis, optif neuritis, optid neuritis, optic beuritis, optic meuritis, optic jeuritis, optic heuritis, optic nwuritis, optic nsuritis, optic nduritis, optic nruritis, optic n4uritis, optic n3uritis, optic neyritis, optic nehritis, optic nejritis, optic neiritis, optic ne8ritis, optic ne7ritis, optic neueitis, optic neuditis, optic neufitis, optic neutitis, optic neu5itis, optic neu4itis, optic neurutis, optic neurjtis, optic neurktis, optic neurotis, optic neur9tis, optic neur8tis, optic neuriris, optic neurifis, optic neurigis, optic neuriyis, optic neuri6is, optic neuri5is, optic neuritus, optic neuritjs, optic neuritks, optic neuritos, optic neurit9s, optic neurit8s, optic neuritia, optic neuritiz, optic neuritix, optic neuritid, optic neuritie, optic neuritiw, ptic neuritis, otic neuritis, opic neuritis, optc neuritis, opti neuritis, opticneuritis, optic euritis, optic nuritis, optic neritis, optic neuitis, optic neurtis, optic neuriis, optic neurits, optic neuriti, potic neuritis, otpic neuritis, opitc neuritis, optci neuritis, opti cneuritis, opticn euritis, optic enuritis, optic nueritis, optic neruitis, optic neuirtis, optic neurtiis, optic neuriits, optic neuritsi, ooptic neuritis, opptic neuritis, opttic neuritis, optiic neuritis, opticc neuritis, optic neuritis, optic nneuritis, optic neeuritis, optic neuuritis, optic neurritis, optic neuriitis, optic neurittis, optic neuritiis, optic neuritiss, etc.
|
|
|
