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Medical Author:

Andrew A. Dahl, MD, FACS

Andrew A. Dahl, MD, FACS

Andrew A. Dahl, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. Dr. Dahl's educational background includes a BA with Honors and Distinction from Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, and an MD from Cornell University, where he was selected for Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society. He had an internal medical internship at the New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• What is optic neuritis?
• What causes optic neuritis?
• What are symptoms of optic neuritis?
• What are signs of optic neuritis?
• How is optic neuritis diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for optic neuritis?
• What is the prognosis for optic neuritis?
• Can optic neuritis be prevented?
• Where can I find more information on optic neuritis?
• Optic Neuritis At A Glance
• Patient Comments: Optic Neuritis - Experience
• Patient Comments: Optic Neuritis - Treatments
• Find a local Eye Doctor in your town
• Optic Neuritis Index

American Academy of Ophthalmology
http://www.aao.org

• Optic neuritis is an inflammation of the optic nerve of either or both eyes, typically affecting young adults.
• It may be triggered by a viral infection, but it is also sometimes an indication of multiple sclerosis. Other causes include infections, autoimmune disease, and injury to the optic nerve.
• The symptoms of optic neuritis include vision loss, reduced color vision, and pain on movement of the eye.
• The diagnosis is made on the basis of the patient history and an examination by an ophthalmologist. Blood tests and MRI scan of the brain may be indicated.
• Most cases of optic neuritis improve over a period of weeks. Treatment with corticosteroids may hasten recovery.

REFERENCES:

Beck, R.W., Cleary, P.A., et al. "Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial." Arch Ophthalmol 3 (1993): 773-775.

Beck, R.W., Trobe, J.D. "What we have learned FROM the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial." Ophthalmology 10 (1995): 1504-1509.

Brewis, M., Poskanzer, D.C., Rolland, C., et al. "Neurological disease in an English city." Acta Neurol Scand 42 (Suppl 24) (1965): 1.

Celesia, G.G., Kaufman, D.I., Brigell, M., et al. "Optic neuritis: A prospective study." Neurology 40 (1990): 919.

Griffin, J.F., Wray, S.H. "Acquired color vision defects in retrobulbar neuritis." Am J Ophthalmol 86 (1978): 193.

Hess, R.F., Plant, G.T. "The psychophysical loss in optic neuritis: spatial and temporal aspects." In Optic Neuritis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986, p 109.

Lillie, W.I. "The clinical significance of retrobulbar and optic neuritis." Am J Ophthalmol 17 (1934): 110.

Nikoskelainen, E. "Symptoms, signs and early course of optic neuritis." Acta Ophthalmol 53 (1975): 254.

Percy, A.K., Nobrega, F.T., Kurland, L.T. "Optic neuritis and multiple sclerosis." Arch Ophthalmol 87 (1972):135.

Perkin, G.D., Rose, C.F. Optic Neuritis and its Differential Diagnosis. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1979, p 206.

Rizzo, J.F., Lessell, S. "Risk of developing multiple sclerosis after uncomplicated optic neuritis: A long term prospective study." Neurology 38 (1988): 185-190.

Sanders, E.A.C.M., Volkers, A.C.W., van der Poel, J.C., et al. "Estimation of visual function after optic neuritis: A comparison of clinical tests." Br J Ophthalmol 70 (1986): 918.

Van Dalen, J.T.W., Greve, E.L. "Visual field defects in multiple sclerosis." Neuro-ophthalmology 2 (1981):93.

Wray, S.H. "Optic Neuritis." Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology, volume 4, 2539-2568.