Optic neuritis: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment

Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve that prevents the transmission of information from the eye to the brain, causing symptoms such as pain in the eye or partial, or sometimes total, loss of vision, which can affect one eye or both.

This disease, also known as retrobulbar neuritis, is more common in adults aged 20 to 45, mainly caused by multiple sclerosis, but can also be caused by a brain infection, a tumor or heavy metal poisoning.

Read too: Multiple sclerosis: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment
The treatment of optic neuritis is carried out by an ophthalmologist who may recommend the use of corticosteroids in the form of injections and/or tablets, or even surgery.

Optic neuritis symptoms

The main symptoms of optic neuritis are:

• Eye pain that appears suddenly;
• Eye pain, which worsens when moving the eye;
• Loss of the ability to distinguish colors, especially red;
• Spot in the center of vision, which may be dark, very light, cloudy or sparkling;
• Seeing flashes of lights, even with your eyes closed;
• Partial or total loss of vision, in one or both eyes.

Vision loss is usually temporary, however, sequelae such as difficulties identifying colors or having unclear vision may still remain. Check out other symptoms of vision problems that are warning signs.

It is important to consult an ophthalmologist whenever symptoms of optic neuritis appear, so that the diagnosis can be made and the most appropriate treatment can be initiated.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of optic neuritis is made by an ophthalmologist through evaluation of symptoms, health history and tests that evaluate vision.

Make an appointment with an ophthalmologist in the nearest region:

Thus, tests can be carried out, such as visual acuity and campimetry tests, color vision tests, visual evoked potentials, pupillary reflexes or assessment of the fundus of the eye, for example. See the main vision exams.

In addition, you may be asked to undergo a brain MRI scan, which helps identify brain changes such as those caused by multiple sclerosis or a brain tumor.

Possible causes

The main causes of optic neuritis are:

• Multiple sclerosis;
• Brain infections, such as meningitis or viral encephalitis;
• Tumor cerebral;
• Autoimmune diseases;
• Use of medications, such as some antibiotics;
• Lead, arsenic or methanol poisoning.

Furthermore, another cause of optic neuritis is Graves’ disease, which causes damage to the eyes, known as Graves’ orbitopathy. Understand how Graves’ disease appears and how to treat it.

However, in many cases, the cause of optic neuritis is not detected and is called idiopathic optic neuritis.

These conditions can result in the loss of the myelin sheath, which is a layer that covers the nerves and is responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses, causing inflammation in the optic nerve, resulting in symptoms.

How the treatment is carried out

In many cases, optic neuritis heals spontaneously, and symptoms improve after a few weeks or months without the need for specific treatment.

However, the ophthalmologist may recommend the use of corticosteroids, such as methylprednisolone in the vein for 3 days, followed by the use of prednisone in the form of tablets for another 11 days, to reduce inflammation of the optic nerve and speed up recovery.

Surgery to decompress the optic nerve may be indicated in cases of tumor, for example.

Furthermore, if optic neuritis was caused by multiple sclerosis, this disease must be treated with medications recommended by a rheumatologist. See how multiple sclerosis is treated.