Optic neuritis

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External and internal eye anatomy

Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve. It may cause sudden, reduced vision in the affected eye.

Retro-orbital neuritis

The cause of optic neuritis is unknown.

Sudden inflammation of the nerve connecting the eye and the brain (optic nerve) can injure the insulation (myelin sheath) surrounding each nerve fiber, causing the nerve to swell.

Causes of the inflammation can include:

• Autoimmune diseases ( systemic lupus erythematosus , sarcoidosis , Behcet disease, autoimmune optic neuritis)
• Infections (tuberculosis, syphilis, Lyme disease, meningitis, viral encephalitis, and post-infectious measles, rubella, chickenpox, herpes zoster, mumps, and Mycoplasma pneumonia or other common upper respiratory tract infections)
• Multiple sclerosis (most often in adults, but also in children)
• Toxicity from drugs such as methanol or ethambutol
• Vitamin B-12 deficiency

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Risk factors are related to the particular cause.

Review Date: 08/29/2009
Reviewed By: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).