Korean J Ophthalmol.  2011 Apr;25(2):116-120. 10.3341/kjo.2011.25.2.116.

The Clinical Characteristics of Optic Neuritis in Korean Children

• Jo DH
• Kim SJ
• Chae JH
• Yu YS

• KMID: 1111873
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2011.25.2.116

Abstract

PURPOSE
To study the clinical characteristics of optic neuritis in Korean children.
METHODS
A retrospective review of the medical charts of 20 patients who were diagnosed with optic neuritis before age 10 was conducted in this study. Data were collected on the demographics, clinical features, use of intravenous corticosteroids, neuroimaging, and diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
RESULTS
The mean age at diagnosis was 6.5 +/- 1.8 years (range, 3 to 9 years). Seventeen patients (85%) were female, and 13 patients (65%) exhibited bilateral diseases. Visual acuity had decreased to < or =20 / 200 in 16 of the 20 patients, and recovered to > or =20 / 40 in 16 of the 20 patients. The mean duration between the worst visual acuity and 20 / 40 was 2.30 +/- 2.91 months. Intravenous corticosteroid treatment was performed in 15 patients and exerted a beneficial effect on the visual outcomes. Disc swelling was observed in 75.8% of the affected eyes. Multiple sclerosis was diagnosed in five patients with a mean follow-up period of 21.9 +/- 20.3 months. The presence of lesions in brain magnetic resonance images was identified as the most significant factor with regards to the occurrence of multiple sclerosis.
CONCLUSIONS
In children with optic neuritis, a profound decrease in initial visual acuity and rapid recovery of visual acuity were confirmed. Corticosteroid treatment resulted in a beneficial effect on visual outcomes, but had no effect on the risk of multiple sclerosis.

Keyword

Corticosteroid; Multiple sclerosis; Optic neuritis

MeSH Terms

Age Distribution
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Incidence
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods
Male
Optic Neuritis/*diagnosis/epidemiology/physiopathology
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
Severity of Illness Index
*Visual Acuity

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