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Optic neuritis (ON) is an inflammatory and demyelinating eye condition that causes eye pain and sudden vision loss. It is a common condition among people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), regardless of the type of MS they have. Nearly 50 percent of people with MS will develop ON in their lifetime. In fact, 1 in 4 people diagnosed with MS report vision change or loss as their first MS symptom.
Studies have also found that individuals who are Caucasian or who live in regions of high altitude are also at a higher risk of developing ON. Similar to MS, ON affects more women than men, as well as individuals between 20 and 40 years old.
An MS patient shared her story with ON and an MS diagnosis: “After having headaches and eye pain for seven days, I went to see my ophthalmologist,” she said. “He said I had optic neuritis. Then, I saw a neurologist the next week and he diagnosed me with multiple sclerosis. I remember those first weeks being very grueling and exhausting.”
What Causes Optic Neuritis?
The cause of ON is not well understood. Experts believe ON may be caused by an inflammatory response from certain viral infections or autoimmune diseases such as MS. ON is also associated with a rare eye condition called neuromyelitis optica, which also affects the spinal cord.
In MS, the immune system attacks the myelin, a coating that surrounds and protects the nerves within the central nervous system (including the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve). The optic nerve sends signals from the eyes to the brain, allowing people to interpret their visual environment. If the optic nerve becomes inflamed, it can’t send signals to the brain effectively. Within a couple of days, an individual may not be able to interpret visual images clearly or may experience loss of vision.
Symptoms of Optic Neuritis
The symptoms of optic neuritis typically happen suddenly and cause blind spots or areas of poor vision in one or both eyes. Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the optic nerve damage, but vision loss is typically the main symptom.
Other symptoms include:
- Eye pain in one or both eyes due to movement
- Pain in the back of the eye socket
- Decreased visual field
- Deficiency or loss of color vision (dyschromatopsia)
- Dim or blurry vision (scotoma)
- Flashes of light or floaters (photopsia)
- Blind spots
- Abnormalities of the pupil (in shape, size, and reaction to light)
- Swelling of the optic disc
Having severe Optic Neuritis symptoms does not necessarily mean your eye symptoms are permanent. Eye specialists have also found that symptoms widely vary. It is possible for the optic nerve to be inflamed or swollen without ever affecting a person’s vision.
Diagnosing Optic Neuritis
It is important to complete routine eye exams to help pinpoint potential ON, even if you’re not experiencing symptoms. Your doctor may perform the following tests.
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