Optic Neuritis: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Optic Neuritis It is a condition which results in inflammation of the optic nerve that becomes the cause of partial or complete loss of vision.

Causes

The exact cause of optic neuritis is not known but it is believed to be an autoimmune disorder. In case of autoimmune diseases, the ability of the immune system to fight bacteria, viruses or other foreign proteins like fungi is instead used against the body, which creates inflammation and severe damage. The optic nerve that serves the purpose of transferring information to the brain becomes swollen.

Some common causes of optic neuritis are infections through bacteria or viruses. Diabetes makes the body incapable of producing insulin which is also a common cause of optic neuritis. Autoimmune diseases such as lupus tend to lead toward this disorder as well. Other factors are toxins like arsenic, alcohol and lead or radiation therapy. Cranial arthritis can also contribute since it causes inflammation of the arteries within the skull, making it more prone to optic neuritis.

Symptoms

The effects of optic neuritis are seen in the vision and hence it is the most prominent symptom. There may be a considerable loss within a small area of vision in a short time of one or two days which can progress rapidly from blurring to blindness. It is possible that some may notice distorted vision, loss of contrast, haziness and decreased clarity of color perception. In the initial stage, those who suffer from optic neuritis may experience pain in the eye which increases with movement. The worst part is that the pain increases over a week and touches its maximum at the end but takes several days to fade away.

It is possible for optic neuritis to affect both eyes but in most cases only one eye is affected. Thus, it becomes difficult for the patient to detect the loss because of the perfect functioning of the other eye. The most evident symptoms which one must check are loss of brightness and contrast along with loss of color vision. One can witness considerable change in vision around the periphery.

Treatment

There are easy and affordable treatments available for optic neuritis when the cause is infection, which can help regain the lost vision within a few weeks. Medicinal treatment is possible through use of steroids such as deltasone, liquid pred, solu-medrol and orasone. However, it is not safe enough to treat a patient with steroids as the side-effects are more harmful as compared to their contribution to the final outcome. The risk associated with IV steroids is less. It is common to follow oral steroids after IV steroids and it reduces the chances of future attacks of optic neuritis in the patients. It is well known that the use of steroids is not safe in any case but their worth cannot be completely discounted as they are sometimes the only option for speedy recovery. In most cases your consultant is the key reassurance in the recovery process.

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