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Optic Neuritis

Navpreet K. Singh, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Inflammation of the optic nerve (cranial nerve II)

  • Most common form is acute demyelinating optic neuritis (ON), but other causes include infectious disease and systemic autoimmune dis...

DIAGNOSIS

  • Clinical criteria • A: Monocular, subacute loss of vision associated with orbital pain worsening on eye movements, reduced contrast and colour vision, and relative afferent pupillary deficit...

TREATMENT

Most recover spontaneously. 

MEDICATION

First Line

  • IV methylprednisolone has been shown to speed up the rate of visual recovery but without significant long-term benefit; consider for patients ...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

Monthly follow-up to monitor visual changes and steroid side effects 

PATIENT EDUCATION

North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS): http:/...

REFERENCES

1
Benito-Pascual B, Gegúndez JA, Díaz-Valle D, et al. Panuveitis and Optic Neuritis as a Possible Initial Presentation of the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Ocul Immunol Inflamm....

SEE ALSO

Multiple Sclerosis 

CODES

ICD10

  • H46.9 Unspecified optic neuritis

  • H46.00 Optic papillitis, unspecified eye

  • H46.10 Retrobulbar neuritis, unspecified eye

  • H46.3 Toxic optic neuropathy

  • H46.13 Retrobulbar neuritis, bilateral

  • H46.2 N...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Key features include an abrupt visual loss (typically monocular), with periorbital pain with eye movement.

  • MRI is the procedure of choice for determining relative risk and possible ther...

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