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Optic neuritis is the most common sign of infection, but it can also occur in many diseases, such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis, often leading to complete or partial blindness. What are the causes and symptoms of optic neuritis? How is this eye disease treated?

Optic neuritisis an inflammatory process of the second cranial nerve, which is responsible for sending visual stimuli from the eye to the visual cortex, lying in the occipital lobes of the brain. Depending on the localization, two forms of optic neuritis are distinguished:

  • intraocular inflammation , i.e. optic disc inflammation - the inflammatory process is localized in the anterior segment of the optic nerve. Then there are changes in the optic nerve disc. Intraocular inflammation is more common in children than in adults
  • retrobulbar inflammation- the inflammatory process is localized in the distal part of the optic nerve. In this case, there are no changes in the optic disc in the initial period. The diagnosis of extraocular inflammation is much more frequent than intraocular

Optic neuritis - causes

In the case of intraocular inflammation, the most common causes are viral infectious diseases, sinusitis, orbital inflammation or periodontitis.

Retobulbar optic neuritis, on the other hand, usually develops in the course of multiple sclerosis. Then the cause of inflammation is the demyelinating process, which is the breakdown of the myelin sheath surrounding the optic nerve fibers. In its place, glial tissue appears, which disturbs the proper nerve conduction in the optic fibers. According to research, retrobulbar inflammation develops in 50 percent. patients with multiple sclerosis within 15 years of the disease.

It is worth knowing that optic nerve inflammation can also indicate syphilis, rheumatic diseases, as well as diabetes, arteritis, atherosclerosis or hypertension (in the last four cases, optic nerve ischemia occurs), as well as into poisoning ( e.g. methyl alcohol, nicotine, lead, drugs)

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Optic neuritis - symptoms

The onset of the disease is usually sudden - vision deteriorates in one eye:

  • color vision disorder which becomes faded for the patient
  • visual acuity disorder
  • light perception disturbance or no reaction to light

These symptoms may be accompanied by pain in the eye socket when you try to move the eyeball. There may also be spots in the field of view, most often the so-calledcentral scotomas , i.e. moving or permanent changes in the central field of view.

Optic neuritis - diagnosis

In order to diagnose optic neuritis, basic ophthalmological examinations are performed, incl. examination of the fundus and visual field. It may also be necessary to perform an MRI and an electrophysiological examination.

Optic neuritis - treatment

The disease requires prompt treatment as it can cause optic nerve atrophy and irreversible blindness or total loss of vision. Symptomatic drugs, steroids, are usually used first. Their task is to stop inflammation. The ultimate goal of therapy should be to cure the underlying disease causing the optic neuritis.

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Eye diseases and vision disorders