Optic Nerve Conditions

Optic Nerve Conditions


Image of the back of a healthy eye, where the optic nerve is located. When the optic nerve is damaged, poor vision results.

Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve, caused by damage to and loss of the protective sheath (myelin) surrounding this nerve that is so vital for good vision. Demyelinating optic neuritis is another term for this eye condition.

Vision symptoms from optic neuritis can include blurring and blind spots. You also may notice distorted vision, reduced color vision and pain when you move your eyes. These types of symptoms may precede vision loss due to optic neuritis.

Optic neuropathy more generally describes optic nerve abnormalities or damage, including from causes such as blocked blood flow or toxic exposure.

What Causes Optic Neuritis?

Optic neuritis usually occurs in adults younger than 45 and affects more women than men. The condition is common in people who have multiple sclerosis (MS), which occurs when the body's own immune system attacks and destroys protective nerve coverings.

Besides affecting eyesight, related nerve damage in MS can lead to loss of mobility and sensory functions, along with other debilitating conditions.

Treatments for Optic Neuritis

Treatment of optic neuritis has changed in recent years, due to a landmark series of studies known as the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trials (ONTT).

In these studies, people with optic neuritis were randomized for treatment with intravenous (IV) steroids, oral steroids or placebo. Afterward they were evaluated for several years.

From these studies, researchers learned that treatment with steroids had little effect on the final visual outcome in patients with optic neuritis.

However, patients treated with IV steroids had fewer repeat attacks of optic neuritis than patients treated with oral steroids alone. In fact, those treated with oral steroids alone had a higher risk of repeat attacks of optic neuritis than those treated with placebo.