Walsh and Hoyt's Clinical Neuro-Ophthalmology

Optic Neuritis

"Optic neuritis is a term usedto refer to inflammation of the optic nerve."

"Optic neuritis is a term usedto refer to inflammation of the optic nerve. When it is associatedwith a swollen optic disc, it is called papillitis or anterior optic neuritis. When the optic disc appears normal, the term retrobulbar optic neuritis or retrobulbar neuritis is used. In the absence of signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) or other systemic disease, the optic neuritis is referredto as monosymptomatic or idiopathic, or as a clinically isolatedsynd rome. The pathogenesis of isolatedoptic neuritis is presumedto be demyelination of the optic nerve, similar to that seen in MS. It is likely that most cases of isolatedacute optic neuritis are a forme fruste of MS. Optic neuritis, as a harbinger of a more diffuse demyelinating process, merits careful attention to an exact diagnosis and a thorough consideration of treatment paradigms."