What is optic neuritis?
Optic neuritis occurs when swelling (inflammatory process) damages the optic nerve.
Symptoms of optic neuritis may be considered the first indication of multiple sclerosis or the pathological process may be formed in the late stage of multiple sclerosis.
As a reminder, multiple sclerosis is a disease that causes inflammation and damages the nerves in the brain and optic nerve area. In addition to multiple sclerosis, inflammation of the optic nerve may occur in the background of other diseases or infections, for example, this pathology can be lupus.
In the case of a single episode, the vision problem caused by optic neuritis resolves without treatment. Sometimes steroid medication is needed (for quick recovery).
During optic neuritis, one eye is affected and the patient suffers from the following symptoms:
- Eye pain;
- Loss of vision in one eye;
- Loss of central vision or peripheral vision;
- You may notice that due to the disease the colors are no longer as bright as before;
- A kind of lightning, flashing light during eye movement.
When to consult a doctor?
Eye pathology requires serious attention, because some diseases are accompanied by the risk of vision loss.
Consult an ophthalmologist in the following cases:
- Eye pain or any change in vision;
- Symptoms worsened, condition did not improve despite treatment;
- Signs characteristic of a neurological disorder (loss of vision, blurred vision, numbness and weakness in the limbs).
The exact cause of optic neuritis is unknown. According to doctors, the disease is formed when the immune system mistakenly attacks the sheath that surrounds the optic nerve, and as a result, the myelin is damaged, an inflammatory process is formed.
The risk group includes people aged 20 to 40 (diagnosis is common in this age group).
In addition, women suffer from optic neuritis more often.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/optic-neuritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354953
