Optic neuritis

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Optic neuritis

Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve, which lies at the back of the eye and carries visual information from the eye to the brain. Optic neuritis may cause partial or total loss of vision, usually in one eye, and is often associated with pain when the eye moves.

When optic neuritis causes partial vision loss, effects may include:

Loss of vision in the center of the visual field (central scotoma).
Changes in color perception, with bright colors appearing dull.

Symptoms of optic neuritis usually develop over a period of a few days to a week and stabilize for several weeks or months. In many cases vision then improves on its own. If not, steroid treatment usually is effective at relieving the inflammation.

Optic neuritis can be associated with other neurological and inflammatory conditions, such as multiple sclerosis.

Credits

Author	Jeannette Curtis
Author	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Last Updated	May 25, 2007

Last updated:	May 25, 2007
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman

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