J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1987 Aug;28(4):909-915.

Optic Neuritis and Optic Atrophy

• Oum BS

Abstract

Optic neuritis is general term used to describe involvement of the optic nerve as a result of inflammation, demyelination, or infection. Other disorders of the optic nerves, including those of ischemic, neoplastic, and toxic etiologies, are generally termed optic neuropathy. Papillitis refers to anterior lesions in which the disk is swollen and shows other signs of an exudative process, including hyperemia of the disk, fine opacities in the vitreous, and venous sheathing. Retrobulbar neuritis shows no abnormality in the fundus and will be followed in subsequent years by other signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis in a large proportion of cases. Corticosteroids are occasionally used to treat the pain or shorten the duration of acute optic neuritis, but the final visual outcome is probably not influenced by this therapy. Optic atrophy is the end result of any pathologic process that damage the axons that course between the retinal ganglion cells and the lateral geniculate body. The pallor of optic atrophy must extend from center to edge of the disk. Ophthalmoscopic appearance of pallor does not parallel the severity of the visual field loss. Examination of the fundus using red-free light may show evidence of retinal nerve fiber atrophy. It is rarely possible to treat the underlying cause effectively. The prognosis depends on the possibility of controlling the causal factor.

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Atrophy
Axons
Demyelinating Diseases
Geniculate Bodies
Hyperemia
Inflammation
Multiple Sclerosis
Nerve Fibers
Optic Atrophy*
Optic Nerve
Optic Nerve Diseases
Optic Neuritis*
Pallor
Papilledema
Prognosis
Retinal Ganglion Cells
Retinaldehyde
Visual Fields
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Retinaldehyde