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Causes of Optic Neuritis

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Sunil Shroff, MBBS, MS, FRCS (UK), D. Urol (Lond) on Jan 03, 2017


Causes

It is presumed to be an autoimmune reaction (immune reaction against body's own cells) resulting in a demyelinating (the myelin sheath covering nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord are destroyed) inflammation of the nerve, hence the nerve conduction is delayed. Nerve conduction may also be reduced if there is inflammatory destruction of the nerve fibres.


Causes of optic neuritis are:

  1. Infections: Viral, bacterial, syphilis, lyme disease, sinusitis
  2. After vaccination
  3. Autoimmune diseases: Systemic lupus erythematosis, vasculitis
  4. Drugs: Ethambutol (anti TB drug)
  5. Toxins: tobacco, methyl alcohol
  6. Ischemia: Ischemic optic neuropathy
  7. Compression or infiltration
  8. Miscellaneous

References:

  1. Neil R, Miller, Fletcher Hoyt �Walsh & Hoyt�s clinical neuroophthalmology.�2005: 293-317
  2. Beck, R.W., Cleary, P.A., et al. "Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial." Arch Ophthalmol�3 (1993): 773-775.
  3. Nikoskelainen, E. "Symptoms, signs and early course of optic neuritis."�Acta Ophthalmol�53 (1975): 254.
  4. Wray, S.H. "Optic Neuritis."�Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology, volume 4, 2539-2568.
  5. Ankur Sinha �Optic Neuritis� DOS Times, 16/ Dec 2010, 11-18

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