Curriculum · ENT, Ophthalmology, and Dermatology
Optic neuritis
What it is
Optic neuritis is a cause of acute visual loss. In its typical form it is retrobulbar in nature. When it is anterior it is called papillitis.
Causes and risk
Typical optic neuritis is in a female and is associated with pain during ocular movement. If the patient is male, or if the optic neuritis is anterior, infectious, inflammatory and neoplastic conditions need to be excluded.
How it presents
The onset is over a few hours, with pain on ocular movement, and there may be a history of MS. Loss of vision in one eye over a few hours with pain on ocular movement, especially adduction, and a VA of 6/60 is the picture.