Optic NeuritisSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Optic Neuritis
The optic nerve carries images of what the eye sees to the brain. When this nerve becomes swollen or inflamed, it is called optic neuritis. It may cause sudden, reduced vision in the affected eye.
Retro-bulbar neuritis; Multiple sclerosis - optic neuritis; Optic nerve - optic neuritis
The exact cause of optic neuritis is unknown.
The optic nerve carries visual information from your eye to the brain. The nerve can swell when it becomes inflamed. The swelling can damage nerve fibers. This can cause short or long-term loss of vision.
Conditions that have been linked with optic neuritis include:
- Autoimmune diseases, including lupus, sarcoidosis, and Behcet disease
- Cryptococcosis, a fungal infection
- Bacterial infections, including tuberculosis, syphilis, Lyme disease, and meningitis
- Viral infections, including viral encephalitis, measles, rubella, chickenpox, herpes zoster, mumps, and mononucleosis
- Respiratory infections, including mycoplasma pneumonia and other common upper respiratory tract infections
- Multiple sclerosis
Symptoms may include:
- Loss of vision in one eye over an hour or a few hours
- Changes in the way the pupil reacts to bright light
- Loss of color vision
- Pain when you move your eye
Vision often returns to normal within 2 to 3 weeks with no treatment.
Corticosteroids given through a vein (IV) or taken by mouth (oral) may speed up recovery. However, the final vision is no better with steroids than without. Oral steroids may actually increase the chance of recurrence.
If tests suggest that there is also multiple sclerosis, other types of treatment may be helpful.
Further tests may be needed to try to find the cause of the neuritis. If there is a condition causing the problem, it may be treated.
Ongoing research is underway to explore treatments that can help protect the optic nerve and promote recovery in the case of a recurrence.
Johns Hopkins University
Peter Calabresi is a Neurologist practicing medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Calabresi is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. He is also highly rated in 16 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Optic Neuritis, Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS), and CACH Syndrome.
Vanderbilt Medical Group- Teleneurology
Francesca Bagnato is a Neurologist practicing medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Bagnato is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. She is also highly rated in 6 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Neuromyelitis Optica, Optic Neuritis, and Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS). Dr. Bagnato is board certified in .
Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
Elias Sotirchos, M.D., specializes in the diagnosis, management and treatment of neuroimmunological disorders that involve the central nervous system, including multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). His research focuses on developing and validating novel imaging and blood-based biomarkers of these conditions, and clinical trials of experimental therapeutic agents. Dr. Sotirchos earned his medical degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and subsequently completed his internship and neurology residency training at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He then pursued advanced clinical and research training in neuroimmunology at Johns Hopkins as a National MS Society Sylvia Lawry Fellow. Dr. Sotirchos is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Neuritis. He is also highly rated in 8 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Optic Neuritis, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Neuromyelitis Optica, and Transverse Myelitis. Dr. Sotirchos is board certified in American Board Of Psychiatry And Neurology.
When optic neuritis occurs without other diseases, the prognosis is better. An MRI is an important test because it can help predict if multiple sclerosis or other similar autoimmune diseases are present or may develop.
Optic neuritis caused by multiple sclerosis or other autoimmune diseases has a poorer outlook. However, vision in the affected eye may still return to normal.
Complications may include:
- Body-wide side effects from corticosteroids
- Vision loss
Some people who have an episode of optic neuritis will develop nerve problems in other places in the body or develop multiple sclerosis.
Contact your health care provider right away if you have a sudden loss of vision in one eye, especially if you have eye pain.
If you have been diagnosed with optic neuritis, contact your provider if:
- Your vision decreases.
- The pain in the eye gets worse.
- Your symptoms do not improve within 2 to 3 weeks.
Summary: Long-term, multicenter, multinational, observational, registry of patients with AQP4+ NMOSD that is designed to collect data on clinical outcomes and safety in patients prescribed Alexion C5 inhibitor therapies (C5IT). The registry will also collect data on patient reported outcomes (PROs), quality of life (QoL), and targeted AQP4+ NMOSD therapies used to provide evidence on the real-world impact ...
Summary: Neuroimmune diseases are more prevalent among women of reproductive age. Studies have shown that neuroimmune diseases may impact fertility. Therefore, effective management of neuroimmune diseases during pregnancy is particularly important. This study included a follow-up period of up to five years in patients with pregnancy-associated neuroimmune disorders. Data collected included relapse frequenc...
Published Date: January 27, 2026
Published By: Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Calabresi PA. Multiple sclerosis and demyelinating conditions. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 380.
Chaitanuwong P, Moss HE. Optic neuritis: a comprehensive review of current therapies and emerging treatment strategies. Front Neurol. 2025;16:1605075. PMID: 40606143 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40606143/.
Kuchlin S, Ihorst G, Heinrich SP, et al. Clinical predictors in acute optic neuritis: analysis based on clinical trial data. Ophthalmology. 2025;132(6):631-643. PMID: 39827907 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39827907/.
Moss HE, Balcer LJ. Inflammatory optic neuropathies and neuroretinitis. In: Yanoff M, Duker JS, eds. Ophthalmology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 9.7.
Thurtell MJ, Prasad S, Tomsak RL. Neuro-ophthalmology: afferent visual system. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 16.